Another version of the Chevrolet Volt is due to market in 2012 or '13, says CEO Akerson.

General Motors will rapidly expand its line-up of electric cars, trucks and crossovers, from hybrids to full battery-electric vehicles, says CEO Dan Akerson – including a new version of the Chevrolet Volt that will reach market in the next year or two.

The maker has been “pleased and surprised” by the reception the Volt plug-in hybrid has received – including its being named North American Car of The Year by a panel of 49 U.S. and Canadian journalists.  That latest endorsement came at the opening ceremonies of the Detroit Auto Show.

In fact, Akerson said the maker is looking for ways to ramp up production of the Volt.  Original plans called for GM to produce just 10,000 of the vehicles in 2010, but recently said that could go as high as 25,000.  Now, the executive said, following a speech at an industry confab, “We think it will be more than that.”

Akerson, a newcomer to the auto industry, was vague when describing the additional version of the Volt, suggesting it will have a crossover-style body – as opposed to the current hatchback – and will “probably” reach market “in the 2012 or ’13 timeframe.”

The Chevy Volt claims North American Car of the Year honors, on Monday.

The CEO recently authorized GM to hire another 1,000 engineers and support employees to ramp up its battery vehicle efforts, but it now appears things are going at an even faster pace than anticipated.  Akerson not only confirmed efforts to develop a plug-in hybrid version of the Cadillac SRX but said it is “likely” to reach production.

Separately, two senior officials with the automaker’s battery car program told TheDetroitBureau.com that the SRX plug-in would take a different route, technically, from the Volt.  The current model offers enough batteries to travel anywhere from 25 to 50 miles per charge, then uses a small internal combustion engine to keep going.  Under almost all conditions, the wheels are turned solely by the Volt’s electric motors.

The SRX powertrain would be closer to that of a conventional hybrid drivetrain with a more limited range (almost certainly around or under 20 miles per charge).  After the batteries were drained the gasoline motor would power the wheels directly, with occasional hybrid assist.

One of GM’s new goals is that “We want electric cars for all four (surviving North American) brands,” said Akerson, during a conversation following his speech, “at least one model in every brand.”

During his speech, the CEO stressed the need to make sure GM does not return to doing business “the same old way.”

He insisted there is plenty of upside potential in the car business, noting that global demand is expected to surge from 60 million vehicles produced in 2009 to an estimated 90 million in 2014.  “By any definition,” he proclaimed, “that’s a growth industry.”

Akerson also acknowledged that the maker’s 2009 bankruptcy seriously disrupted its product cadence, delaying development efforts on a number of vehicles – which he declined to name.  That will delay the launch of some, he added, though Akerson suggested that the maker is speeding up development on others in order to get them back on their original launch schedule.