GM to use a different battery in their cars

GM announced they’re going to be bringing a Lithium-ion battery powered automobile in 2010.  Of course it’s a hybrid like Toyota and Honda, and it is supposed to deliver 3x the power of their current hybrid battery powered vehicles.  These hybrid vehicles are of great interest to me because day to day expenses of gasoline are starting to get killer.

I worry about the lithium ion battery though, seeing as my laptop is powered by one of those.  They get really really warm, to the point where it’s aggravating to have my laptop on my lap.  Then I imagine a car with that.  Sounds fun.  Also, lithium ion batteries tend to have trouble holding a charge after a year or so.  That’d be awesome to get a 5 year loan on one of these and have it die on you a year later, and pay for it for the following 4 years.

And am I the only one that things that is ugly as sin?