In a recent LinkedIn post, General Motors CEO Mary Barra outlined her company’s progress toward an all-electric future. Barra lists EV research and development, strategic utility partnerships, and increased consumer awareness as GM’s latest progress in the field of electric vehicle propulsion technology.
In Barra’s LinkedIn post, she maintains GM’s schedule to launch 20 new all-electric vehicles globally by 2023 – a target announced a year ago. It is clear from the statement of the General Motors CEO that she envisions a future in which it is at the forefront of electric energy, and it is directing its resources to ensure that happens.
The post from Barra continued highlight the progress of this initiative so far, and to noted what measures are being taken done for the future:
- Barra mentioned a production increase of the Chevrolet Bolt EV due to increased customer demands here and abroad. In Hazel Park, Michigan, an LG Electric facility, which will make battery packs this fall to supply the Orion, Michigan assembly plant, where the all-electric Chevrolet Bolt EV is built.
- General Motors is now performing nearly all battery testing “under one roof” in an expanded laboratory. At 100,000 square feet, Barra claims that it is “the largest in the world.” The laboratory, located at the GM Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, houses the battery testing for the Chevrolet Volt, Bolt EV, and whatever is to come next.
- GM has revealed two new EV entries – the Buick Velite 6 EV and the Baojun E200, which is developed for the Chinese market. However, Barra’s post didn’t mention that the Buick Velite 6 has hit a snag in its production.
- General Motors CEO Barra also noted that GM will create a prototype vehicle capable of a 180-mile range with less than 10 minutes of charging. The prototype will be sent to Delta Electronics for official testing as part of a new U.S. Department of Energy initiative.
Comments
Cool, just let the Vette and Camaro be the very last cars in GM’s stable to go all-electric, if it’s even necessary.
And lose sales to Germany’s Taycan? You really want American money going to Germany? There will always be Split Window C3’s, Lutz-beast Z06 C6’s, Wing-wonder ZR1’s. Go buy “Vette” magazine and learn how to wrench them and have fun with them for the rest of your life. Meanwhile, America needs profits from overseas.
If GM hasn’t already entertained the idea, a hybrid C8 with a KERS system would certainly raise the Corvettes’ profile.
My first thought every time I see a new Vette is “If only it were electric”. Having owned Volts for the last 6 years, I could never go back to the outdated gasoline engine technology.
Here’s a concept. Instead of telling everybody that they are only going to shove electric cars down our throats whether we want them or not how about instead giving the customers choices and see where buyer demand and infrastructure improvements take things in the coming years. Even if the 10 minute charging thing with 180 mile distances does somehow work it will still not be sustainable for many due to costs, availability and time constraints.
Range of any electric I have seen goes down substantially in cold weather. How will this work in northern states? The other issue is… are electric vehicles really more efficient/less harmful to the environment overall, given battery production and what it takes to make electricity? Is the pollution get getting moved from the tailpipe to the smokestack? My wife really liked her Volt, but the electric range fell to somewhere in the teens for miles on the coldest days. Is that issue fixed on the new pure electrics? What about for those who have to park outside and cannot “pre-warm.” It will be a sad day if GM really does go all electric.
180 miles? Getting there. I need at least 500 miles/day range as an only vehicle. Now as a second, around town only vehicle, how about one that I can charge overnight at home on 110 volts.