GM CEO Mary Barra Addresses Energy Conference, Lays Out Automaker’s Ambitious Vision
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General Motors CEO Mary Barra addressed the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday and she once again laid out the automaker’s ambitious future. Notably, GM will focus on its long-term goal of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion.
Each goal is already in motion today, per Barra. The automaker’s electric and electrified cars are only the beginning with 20 new battery-electric vehicles coming by 2023. GM Cruise is hard at work on self-driving car technology to roll out safe autonomous vehicles, and reduce congestion in inner cities with more shared cars.
Barra pointed out that 1.25 million people die around the world each year due to car crashes; GM wants to reduce that figure to zero in its ambitious goals.
While summing up other GM accomplishments relating back to the trifecta that guides GM, she also called on U.S. lawmakers to address the federal tax credits for electric vehicles and expressed GM’s desire to partner with the energy industry to invest in charging infrastructure across the country.
GM will likely reach the federal tax credit cap of 200,000 vehicles this year. After that, the credits enter a phaseout period until the $7,500 credit becomes $0.
And Barra pushed for more discussions on renewable energy sources, especially as electric cars plug into the electricity grid around the world. Coal still provides 30 percent of electricity in the U.S. and 65 percent in China.
Despite the challenges Barra presented, she proclaimed GM will overcome them all.
“The good news is we have the ambition, the talent and the technology to create a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion,” she said.
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Great to see her focusing on the business and not politics. It is much better when you work with our President in order to make the country better for everyone in the future. Ignore the hateful types that are just trying to sow discord and division in our country. Positivity wins out.
Thanks, Mary.
Barra´s way (American way of business which prefer shareholder before costumer): from global leader to marginal local carmaker. Sad story of lost car history (Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Saturn, Hummer, Saab, Opel….). Who´s next!
I still keep coming back to the lack of high-speed charging stations … until the infrastructure is in place (not just for GM, but for all), and battery tech improves, EVs seem likely to be commuter cars for the time being.
This recent thrust of many auto makers to suddenly embrace EVs reeks of mass hysteria without thinking through many of the issues logically. It just seems they are all trying to emulate the present day Tesla model without really considering consumer acceptance or how to advance EV technology in terms of product and support.
1> EVs will never gain significant consumer acceptability if they cannot compete with current ICE vehicles in terms of new car price, nationwide product support, nationwide availability of fuel, speed of “fill ups”, and cruising range.
2> Of huge concern is speed of re-fueling. Current EV technology requires long charging times to achieve just a couple of hundred miles of driving range. Compare that to re-filling your current ICE tank – Minutes to achieve 400+ miles of driving range. From filling stations located everywhere. Vs. Charging stations mostly in urban centers or along Interstates.
3> But there is an obvious solution – replaceable battery cells. So instead of relying on trying to charge the fixed in-car battery why not build EVs with easily changeable battery cells so the driver could pull into a “filling” station and quickly swap out his depleted batteries with already charged ones. Pay for the energy differential and . . . Quick, easy and he is on his way. If a generic standard is be developed for these batteries (like a “D” cell for cars – but much larger) then not only could a driver re-charge at home or work but also not be afraid to venture out into the real world beyond his urban home base for longer trips. Current “gas” stations could easily adapt to having battery charging equipment and a supply of re-charged cells on hand. After all – current gas stations are really only selling energy in different forms already – such as gasoline, Diesel fuel, or Propane. Adding EV batteries would keep them in business while helping to expand the acceptability of EVs.
4> But the final point in the OEM rush to EVs is that they seem to believe that all vehicles will become EVs in the future. I don’t see that all or nothing scenario at all – I see a future where different forms of personal transportation machines would be available powered by different energy systems. Just like today, where the consumer can buy gasoline, alcohol, diesel, Natural gas or electricity powered cars. And hopefully more Hydrogen powered vehicles in the future as well. The point is – each type has it’s own pros & cons – to each consumer. That’s the advantage of the free market.
So back to my original point. My advice to OEMs is simple – don’t simply follow the Tesla model, but instead consider the issues in terms of consumer acceptance, product support, cost to consumers, and energy supplies. Thank about how to move EV technology ahead by addressing how consumers use and value today’s products in order to entice them with new and innovative products in the future.