General Motors CEO Mary Barra has her work cut out for her in the near future. She’s delivered promises such as self-driving cars on public roads in 2019 and a goal to make electric cars profitable by 2021.
Mary Barra reiterated the automaker’s goals in a new interview with Fast Company and she provided more specifics surrounding the goals, which starts with the hiring process. Barra has been an instrumental force it trying to shift the narrative from a 110-year-old automaker, to a true innovator in the 21st century.
The GM CEO said there’s a major focus on hiring electrical and software engineers these days as both become major elements at nearly every automaker. Barra said more engineers in the respected fields are “key for us.”
“There’s so much software that is now on the vehicle, and, in many cases, software is replacing mechanical systems,” Barra added. “There’s going to be a point where we’re going to be upgrading and improving cars as opposed to fixing them.”
So far, Barra’s strategy has worked. She said GM hires someone for a full-time science, technology, engineering, or mathematics position every 26 minutes. The new hires will be instrumental in GM’s future goals: deploying self-driving cars and electric cars.
The CEO said GM is still on track to deploy self-driving cars in 2019 with a fleet of vehicles for a ride-sharing service. However, the first cars will be geo-fenced to a particular area, much like Waymo will roll out this year in Arizona. Barra said self-driving cars will continue to learn various essentials, such as operating in tunnels or in deep snow, and the automaker will continue to expand the geo-fenced area along the way. But, regulations will also play a part in the expansion of self-driving cars.
On electric cars, Barra said charing anxiety is the next major issue to overcome.
“Having the Chevrolet Bolt EV with a 238-mile range was a huge step forward in reducing people’s range anxiety. The next thing they have is charge anxiety. So when I do need to charge, is there going to be infrastructure?”
GM is working on ultra-fast charging technology to charge an electric car in just 10 minutes. solid-state transformers (SSTs) and a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) port will be used to deliver 400 kW of power.
Comments
I’d probably buy a 2019 Chevy Bolt, if it wasn’t so expensive!!! I am but a semi-retired, barely middle-class, male nurse. I presently own a 2014 Chevy Sonic LT Sedan. It has 33,800 miles on it! It’s been very reliable!
“Having the Chevrolet Bolt EV with a 238-mile range was a huge step forward in reducing people’s range anxiety. The next thing they have is charge anxiety. So when I do need to charge, is there going to be infrastructure?”
These claims from all EV manufacturers are worse than when the EPA MPG ratings first showed up in the seventies. Lets get real world numbers. It’s 10 degrees outside, where does the heat come from? I’m sure it’s an electric heater taking power from the batteries. Right now here in Florida it’s 93 degrees as it is mostly every day from June to September. What is running the AC compressor? I’m sure a big fat electric motor. So now what is the range?
At 100,000 miles the lithium batteries will only be a certain % of power it had when new. What will be the cost for replacements? What will be the life expectancy of the batteries? What is the warranty on batteries? This is my anxiety for EV. I still do not under why there isn’t as much investment with hybrids. The Chevy Volt technology fits most of my anxieties. Why I do not have one? Ever try getting into one? You need to be under 5’8”. I’m 6’2”. Put the Volt power plant in a SUV or truck and I’ll be at the show room.
I do have to comment that Ms Barra is doing an outstanding job running GM.
You’ve conveniently neglected to mention that the same AC compressor negatively affects the range and fuel economy of a conventional ICE driven vehicle.
Also, it gets much colder than 10F in Norway, where EV sales are much more substantial, and I don’t think the loss of range is any more disproportionate then the range lost in winter driving a conventional car.
My concern is the numbers, sure cooling cost everyone but to say 238 mile range, (not 230 or 240), what is the impact on the battery? 200 mile range, less or more? Until you live anywhere in the sunbelt in the USA and how hot it can get, AC becomes a big factor. In two weeks I take my annual road trip to upstate New York and Vermont. From Orlando Florida it is approximately 1300 miles ( 2100 kilometers). try doing that with an EV in two days. I do want EV’s to work and right now they are good a commuter vehicle. I’m just tired of the numbers game marketing and sales people are pushing on this market segment.
George you have some good points. I just bought a 2018 volt and love it. I went from a 2004 GMC Envoy “XUV” with 305,000 miles on it; to the volt. I just take my time getting in and out. I chose the volt so I can learn and experience the new technology, so when “GM” produces an suv ‘ hybrid i will know if I want to purchase one or go gas. After a month and half and 2200 miles I am extremely pleased and impressed with how they have put into the car. GM is saying possibly by 2020 they will have a suv…..I am hoping.
I have owned a Bolt since May 20,2017 and currently have 19k on the odometer. I’ve been thru a New England winter and two summers with it. No issues! Yes I do lose some range using heat in winter, but so does a gas car (lower mpg). I lose even less range when using AC.
I have no range anxiety even when going on long trips. While I would like faster charging and more infrastructure, I don’t seem to be suffering. I’m actually thinking about replacing my wife’s car with another Bolt. So let me see, 19k with no gas, no oil, no exhaust, no repairs, no maintenance, and not visiting and smelling a gas station. Seems like a win to me!
What about infrastructure delivering power to the number of fast and powerful charging stations? Has anybody thought diameter of the cable to supply such power ? Is not
A problem to charge two batteries at once but what about 20 ? Or 50 ?
In answer to your question, here is a great summation of what happens. For those in the TL:DR set, the grid collapses.
https://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=234074
Yeah, that site looks like it’s staffed by thorough researchers and economists and not a paranoid schizophrenic trying to sell his book that only validate his delusions.
If you’re getting market advice from him, you might want to take 5 minutes to have a word with yourself and ask what you’re doing wrong with your life.
I don’t care if he once was a CEO. People can fall from grace, and then again they can fall spectacularly and never recover again.
Karl is definitely a bit… extreme. And he can be rather pompous in his pronouncements. That being said, his research on this is correct.
Telling you, try a Volt, you’ll like it more than you expect, and not only will you not go back to gas, you’ll want a full EV next instead. I know I do. So come on GM, let’s crank them out!