Obviously ICE are powered by lithium facts the gasoline you buy when you fill up at a gas station. The electric motor/generator is powered by a large (and by large, I mean large and heavy) battery pack. Most hybrids on the road today have large Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) battery packs somewhere near the trunk, or under the seats. (Read about the Lexus Hybrid battery pack).
Nonetheless, the Volt is not something in GM's immediate plans. The idea for the Volt would require that a cost efficient 400-lb lithium-ion battery be found. lithium facts-ion batteries of this size are not currently available. Further advances in battery technology would be required to allow GM to consider making the Volt a production car. These are enhancements that could occur in as little as a year, or as many as 20 years. GM has stated that they feel the technology is almost there, yet a vehicle like this is probably about a decade away.
ONickel Metal Hydride (NiMh) - Popular battery about 1-2 years ago. They are lighter than Nickel Cadmium batteries, but heavier than Lithium batteries. These should be cycled once in a while for optimum performance.
The iPod warranty is one year but you can expand it for two years with AppleCare Protection Plan for iPod. Various merchants have inexpensive extended warranty coverage available and often these programs purely change the lithium bettery stock product with a corresponding new unit.
In terms of charging these powerful cells, when specifically used in an LED flashlight, special chargers are available all over the internet. Most will handle a 18650 battery as well as a variety of other Li-ion sizes.
Using these easy tips to keep the battery in the best condition won't do wonders, but will let you use it to the maximum number of recharges. Ever wondered why some laptops keep their maximum capacity for 3-4 years, while others dive under an hour of runtime in one? This is why.