General Motors has "essentially finished" designing its first plug-in hybrid car, the Chevrolet Volt, and says it will have production-ready prototypes within 10 days.

The automaker still has considerable work to do on the car's lithium-ion battery and other technology in the two years before the Volt is scheduled to go on sale, but completing the design is a milestone for what is arguably the most crucial car in decades for GM.

The Volt would be able to travel at least 40 miles, or 64 kilometers, on battery power alone, GM said Thursday. The battery is recharged by plugging a cord into a household outlet.

For further information: International Herald Tribune