Although the car won't be released until 2010, the smallest tidbit about the Chevy Volt makes headlines. In that spirit, Reuters is reporting that GM has settled on a division of LG Chem, called Compact Power, to supply the lithium-ion batteries.

The Volt will be a plug-in hybrid, running 40 miles on battery power before a small engine begins recharging duties. (We had a sneak peek at the car this summer.)

According to the Reuters article, Compact Power and GM are still hammering out important contract details such as warranty costs. GM is expected to make an official announcement regarding the Volt's batteries in November, but neither they or LG has confirmed the article's claim.

Chevy is taking a big risk on the Volt by using a new and expensive technology as the central component of the powertrain. A great article in the Atlantic tells the story of how the big automaker threw out the usual corporate rulebook in order to develop the car.

You've got to give it to GM for rolling the dice on an essentially unproven technology. Even if it pays off, I wonder if it will be enough to stop the tide of Teslas from washing over Detroit.