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General Motors has announced that it expects to have lithium-ion powered hybrid cars in production by 2010.

Hybrid and electric cars powered by the same technology as the battery you'd find in your mobile phone or notebook PC, but on a larger scale, could lead to mass production.

The batteries are smaller and more powerful than the nickel-metal hydride batteries currently used by gas-electric hybrids, though there is a concern over their safety. They're also more expensive.

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