DETROIT, Nov. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- General Motors
Co. (NYSE: GM) Chairman and CEO Mary
Barra revealed that the company will offer 30 all-electric
models globally by mid-decade. Forty percent of the company's U.S.
entries will be battery electric vehicles by the end of 2025. Barra
also announced an increase in GM's financial commitment to EVs and
AVs today to $27 billion through 2025
– up from the $20 billion planned
before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Climate change is real, and we want to be part of the solution
by putting everyone in an electric vehicle," said Barra. "We are
transitioning to an all-electric portfolio from a position of
strength and we're focused on growth. We can accelerate our EV
plans because we are rapidly building a competitive advantage in
batteries, software, vehicle integration, manufacturing and
customer experience."
At the virtual Barclays Global Automotive Conference, Barra and
Doug Parks, GM executive vice
president of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply
Chain, will share key elements of GM's plan, including:
- By 2025, GM will launch 30 EVs around the world, and more than
two-thirds will be available in North
America. Cadillac, GMC, Chevrolet and Buick will all be
represented, with EVs at all price points for work, adventure,
performance and family use.
- Engineering advances have increased the previously stated
GM-estimated maximum range of Ultium-based vehicles from 400. GM's
Ultium-based EVs, when produced, will be capable of driving ranges
up to 450 miles on a full charge1.
- GM's versatile Ultium platform provides the building blocks for
everything, from mass market to high performance vehicles – all
from a single, common cell in most markets and a set of
interchangeable propulsion components.
- More than half of GM's capital spending and product development
team will be devoted to electric and electric-autonomous vehicle
programs.
- GM's second-generation Ultium chemistry is projected to deliver
twice the energy density at less than half the cost of today's
chemistry. GM is already prototype testing this next-generation
technology, which is expected to be available mid-decade.
- Ultium technology, supported by hundreds of granted patents and
pending patent applications, is expected to bring EVs closer to
price parity with gas-powered vehicles.
- Both the GMC HUMMER EV and Cadillac LYRIQ programs were
accelerated, along with other vehicles to be revealed at a later
date.
- GM is hiring 3,000 electrical system, infotainment software and
controls engineers, plus developers for Java, Android, iOS and
other platforms.
- GM continues to explore third-party licensing for its Ultium EV
architecture, batteries and propulsion systems, along with its
Hydrotec fuel cell technology developed with Honda.
- GM, in collaboration with its dealers, will leverage its sales
and service capabilities and software-powered innovations to
deliver an exceptional customer experience for EV loyalists and new
EV customers alike.
GM innovates in EV propulsion despite COVID-19
Ultium already represents a milestone achievement in
electrification, with battery pack costs nearly 40 percent lower
than those in the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Despite the pandemic, GM's
work on EVs accelerated during 2020.
Now, just eight months after the technology was first revealed,
GM is projecting that second-generation Ultium packs, expected
mid-decade, will cost 60 percent less than the batteries in use
today with twice the energy density expected.
These second-generation cells will get closer to cost parity
with gas-powered engines due to:
- Cell design that enables higher energy density and uses less
non-active material, making more room for the part of the battery
that produces energy.
- Manufacturing efficiencies through GM's Ultium Cells LLC joint
venture with LG Chem.
- Better integration between vehicles and their battery packs,
enabling fewer cells and modules.
- Less expensive cathodes, reduced active material, novel
electrolytes and the first use of lithium metal anodes in a GM
battery.
GM has completed hundreds of test cycles on the multi-layer
prototypes of this next-generation Ultium cell chemistry.
Production cells are expected by mid-decade.
The Ultium platform is flexible enough to accept new chemistry
and even cell types, without redesigns to its
architecture. Ultium batteries will be easy to service at the
module level, which makes repair costs less expensive than having
to replace the whole pack.
"GM's EV development times are speeding up and costs are going
down rapidly, so we expect our Ultium EV programs to be profitable
from the first generation on," said Parks. "It's not just the cost
and performance of our innovative EV components that will give us a
competitive advantage in a fast-changing industry, but how we
integrate them with other advanced systems like Super Cruise, our
Vehicle Intelligence Platform electrical architecture and other
technologies pioneered in our traditional portfolio."
GM is doing most of the development work on these cells
internally at its Chemical and Materials Systems Lab, located at
the Global Technical Center in Warren,
Michigan. This facility features a fabrication line with
polymer mixing, slurries, a coating machine and a cell assembly
room.
Next year, GM will break ground on an all-new Battery Innovation
Lab and Manufacturing Technology Center to develop the
next-generation Ultium battery chemistry.
GM speeds its EV rollout and pace of innovation
The modular and highly flexible qualities of the Ultium system,
along with engineering advances in battery technology, the use of
virtual development tools and lessons learned during the HUMMER EV
development process, have enabled GM to bring EVs to market much
faster than originally planned.
The 2022 GMC HUMMER EV's development time of 26 months – down
from about 50 months – is now the benchmark.
The development schedules for 12 vehicle programs have been
moved up, including:
- GMC HUMMER EV
- Three other GMC Ultium variants, including an EV pickup
- Four Chevrolet EVs, including a pickup and compact
crossover
- Four Cadillacs
In addition, Buick's EV lineup will include two Ultium-based
EVs.
After the GMC HUMMER EV, the next EV to launch will be the
LYRIQ, Cadillac's first all-electric vehicle, which will arrive in
the first quarter of 2022, nine months ahead of schedule.
"Ultium is already changing the way customers – and investors –
view our company," Barra said. "We are resolved as a management
team to move even faster to expedite the transition to EVs. The
all-electric future we are building integrates all the things we do
better than anybody else – so we can put everyone in an EV,
generate profitable growth and create shareholder value."
1GM estimated. EPA estimates not available.
Vehicle range may vary based on several factors, including
temperatures, terrain, battery age, and vehicle use and
maintenance.
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is a global company
committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for
people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its
joint venture entities sell vehicles under
the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun
and Wuling brands. More information on the company and
its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle
safety and security services, can be found
at https://www.gm.com.
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SOURCE General Motors Co.