"Ken Finney" wrote

Yes. GM is also working with another company, A123, on their
"nano-phosphate" technology, but it is just a different flavor of Li-Ion.

Close, but not quite accurate.

The common lithium ion battery outgases oxygen in the process of burning,
which then feeds conventional fires and helps consume the other cells.

The 123 batteries are a different chemistry that do not outgas oxygen, thus
do not catastrophically fail.
--
Jim in NC