I don't know. Maybe GM needs to make a device that will allow them to indelibly stamp the facts to a story into the forehead of the reporters and the website editors so they don't screw it up.
First, the announcement the other day of a collaborative agreement between GM and the most prestigious battery developer out there to develop new batteries was just that. While it's conceivable that an advanced battery resulting from this collaboration might make it into the first version of the VOLT, now firmly set for launch in 2010, that's neither likely nor necessary - the batteries that will be installed into that first version have yet to be selected - that will occur around June of next year and will be either A123 Systems, LG, or both. It's obvious from reports freely available to the public (via www.gm-volt.com - an unofficial website with access to all of the VOLT project people) that both battery companies have finished development of the battery they have designed for the VOLT and are both very confident that it will meet GM's specs. In fact, at that public announcement, it was also announced that GM will have prototype battery packs from both suppliers by October, and test cars running by end of year. Official acceptance testing begins in the Spring.
Therefore, there is no "new" battery design required in order for the VOLT to launch in 2010, although there remains the possibility that a newer GM/A123 Systems battery will emerge before launch and supercede what's scheduled to go into the vehicle.