At the Geneva auto show General Motors announced the planned introduction of its first hybrid to be powered by a lithium-ion battery and set for a North American launch in 2010.

The new engine system will produce three-times the power of the nickel-metal-hydride batteries currently considered an industry standard and as such constitutes an important step toward a new generation of electric vehicles.

Pundits are in agreement that the effective use of lithium-ion power packs is the essential key in making the jump to the mass production of electric cars. The next-generation batteries are not only more powerful, but have the advantage of being lighter.

Considerations that have slowed down their integration revolved around heating concerns, the resolution of which has been the focus of competing companies around the globe.

GM plans to use the new power system in tandem with a wide range of engines including diesel, biofuel, and turbocharged gasoline units, although specific models were not cited in the announcement. The expected gain in fuel efficiency over non-hybrid vehicles is 15 to 20 percent.

Additionally, the system will switch off the engine when the vehicle is idling and will stop the flow of fuel during deceleration, further adding to its level of efficiency. Actual electric-only power will be used in brief bursts.