Scientific American: A single component will make or break Chevrolet’s new Volt “extended-range electric vehicle”–and with it, potentially, the fate of America’s largest carmaker, General Motors: its battery. It’s no wonder then that some GM executives call the Volt’s battery “our diva.” After all, the new lithium-based pack provides the essential spark that makes the new design go in more ways than one–from its green performance and driving range, right down to its wind-cheating looks. “Not only is the …