Cadillac recently did something it has never really done before: during a recent media event prior to the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, the very same event during which it unveiled the 2020 Cadillac XT6, GM’s luxury division pre-announced its first fully electric vehicle. It did so by showing two photo-like renderings of a future electric CUV, one that has yet to get a public-facing name. Though important and noteworthy, all that pales in comparison to a much bigger topic: this future Cadillac electric crossover will use introduce an all-new GM EV platform.
Cadillac To Lead GM’s EV Offensive
General Motors recently announced that Cadillac will lead its electric vehicle rollout. That should come as no surprise at a time when several “traditional” automotive luxury brands are starting to bring to market fully electric or electrified vehicles, whether in response to Tesla or because they truly believe in an all-electric future. The latter appears to be the case for Cadillac, as its parent firm is very much a proponent of an all-electric future.
When we first outlined details of GM’s future electric car portfolio, the chart provided by GM (below) did not specifically outline a Cadillac crossover. However, we did infer that the term “luxury”, which is used commonly on the chart, could apply to either Cadillac or Buick, while general descriptions could be either GMC or Chevrolet models. As it turns out, we were not that far off at all.
It is especially noteworthy that Cadillac’s first fully-electric crossover will be the first to use the future GM EV platform in question. We should note that this platform will be completely different from the Bolt EV platform, which is called BEV2, or Battery Electric Vehicle 2, and is a semi-close relative of the GM Gamma platform.
The electric Cadillac crossover pre-announced in January likely correlates to the Lux 3 SUV on this diagram, which shows the bandwidth of the upcoming GM EV platform
“Cadillac’s EV will hit the heart of the crossover market and meet the needs of customers around the world,” said Steve Carlisle, the recently-appointed president of Cadillac. “It will represent the height of luxury and innovation while positioning Cadillac as the pinnacle of mobility.”
High Flexibility, Any Wheel-Drive
Currently, GM is planning at least nine individual vehicles to ride on its future GM EV platform. In that regard, the automaker has developed its new EV architecture to be extremely flexible. In fact, this new GM EV platform will be capable of supporting vehicles in front-, rear-, or all-wheel-drive.
Meanwhile, vehicles riding on this new GM EV platform will have the outputs of their electric motors adjusted on a per-model basis, and as needed for the product and car line in question.
The platform’s high flexibility and broad parts sharing of advanced components will allow GM to respond to customer preferences swiftly and with a shorter design and development lead times. What’s more, Cadillac is also confident that the new architecture will prove beneficial in a variety of different body styles.
In fact, The General’s new EV platform encompasses a number of shared advanced components like the drive units and battery cells, which are being developed for optimum usability throughout GM’s global vehicle lineup.
Lower Costs
Working in tandem with that strategy, General Motors is working on significantly reducing its lithium-ion battery costs, helping to bring the price of electric cars closer to that of gas-powered vehicles.
Ready By 2021
The new GM EV architecture will be ready by 2021, and the first vehicle riding on it – the electric Cadillac crossover mentioned previously – will be the first to ride on it.
Stay tuned to GM Authority as we follow this developing story, and for more Cadillac news.
Comments
It will be difficult to achieve 8 percent plus margins on EV’s without tremendous scale.
GM should consider allowing other auto companies to buy in on the technology. The volume of, say, GM, Honda and PSA would aid each company. Regardless of the quality of GM’s platform every other company will on their own develop similar platforms so it would be adventagous of The General to team up.
You have to define scale. GM could build this at a plant that is building ICE vehicles at the same time to create scale and utilize plant resources. Also GM reuses parts from other vehicles as well which reduces the cost.
Tesla doesn’t have that abilities so they have to scale their one model that shares little with their other vehicles.
All electric cars are useless in winter states. Battery technology is not ready. People with Tesla’s “pre-heat” their cars for an HOUR before they go anywhere. That’s how bad the heaters are. And the battery system keeps the battery warm so sitting out in a cold parking lot your mileage goes down and down and down, unless you’re plugged in to a 220 charger. If you’re plugged in to a 110 charger, it slows the discharge a little, but just a tiny bit.
We are 50 years away from really universal and useful electrics. Today’s battery technology is far to hard on the environment, far to dangerous in accidents, and far to expensive for the average buyer.
I have three friends that both the husband and wife have Tesla cars.
Three Model X, One Model 3, and two Model S.
They have zero issues. They lose about 50 total miles of range if they were to you know try and drive the whole 330 Mile range. But who drives 330 Miles in one day on a regular basis? Not many people. When they go on road trips, they utilize Super Chargers. They stop to charge and eat. Like I do when I fill up Gas and eat.
The only negative about EV cars right now is price. That will quickly come down.
VW is going to be a huge player in the EV game and I am praying GM isn’t too far behind.
As I understand it, current DC fast chargers can deliver up to 140kW charge rates giving about 170 miles range in a 30 minute charge. This would require about three 30 minute stops for a 600 mi/day trip. Assuming you can find an unoccupied supercharger when you need it, you are making for a long day and lots of food if you eat at each stop. Sorry, but I don’t see that as “zero problems”.
I know Electrify America is promoting 350kW charger futures, I guess assuming next gen batteries can recharge at that rate. Having worked in power engineering in the past, I wonder how they are solving the problems of uninformed users handling 500V and 700A connections? If they can make it work and provide enough chargers across the country, perhaps some day all electric will succeed. Right now I still believe it is a risky business strategy.
It just seems to me to be impractical for road trips for a multitude of reasons.
On the other hand GM’s current Voltec technology has no problems; fully electric around town, backup ICE generator on long trips; all with today’s existing American infrastructure.
It would be nice (and smart) if GM would include it in either the Buick or Cadillac lineups; I assume at those price levels they could do it profitably. Of course, they would actually have to market it, not let it die as they did with the Chevrolet Volt.
Also, I have a friend with a Tesla, and after researching the problems in even a relatively short road trip, they left their shiny new Tesla home and took their old ICE vehicle. And perhaps as Freudian slip, you did say: “Like I do when I fill up Gas and eat”.
Had a Volt and loved it. The problem is it’s carrying around an ICE that’s rarely used outside of long distance driving. So you have all the benefits and down falls of both powertrains versus one.
Yes, but you are not carrying around more heavy and expensive battery than you need for most short around town trips. I doubt there is any real weight advantage to the EV. Remember the beauty of the Volt is the integration of the ICE into what is essentially one electric drive train, Not two separate drive trains as some seem to believe. Our Volt, in our typical suburban driving routine almost fully uses the battery capability, but almost never needs gas. Yet, it sure is nice to know that if I drive too far, the ICE is seamlessly ready to bring me home.
I view the Voltec power train as an engineering masterpiece in today’s real electric vehicle environment. It is a shame that GM seems to be letting it die without ever really marketing it’s advantages.
Perfectly stated Suzy Q
I think you’re missing the point. To grow the Volt into a larger vehicle you need a larger battery to maintain the same EV mileage and you need a larger ICE capable of maintaining like performance when the battery is in it’s low state of charge. I owned a Volt for 3 years ’12-’15 and it was a great car. But it had an ICE, muffler, catalytic converter, fuel tank, fuel lines, water pump, and several clutches. My Bolt has none of that. The Volt is a complex piece of machinery.
The Volt technology was always a transitional. I don’t think anyone thinks 50 years from now PHEV will be the normal.
I am not missing the point, if you like your Bolt, you may keep your Bolt. Your situation obviously does not require the advantages that Voltec technology offers.
My point, which you are apparently missing is that any EV, given existing infrastructure in most of the country, is only useful as a second or city-only car. If you want to see the USA in your Chevrolet, as the song goes, right now you better have a Volt or an ICE car. For road trips, “range anxiety” is a real problem. Yes, Voltec technology may eventually prove to be transitional, but in today’s real EV infrastructure it’s the best game in (and especially out of) town.
Actually, comparing the functional utility and performance of the Volt to its so-called complexity, it come off as an elegant engineering design; and from published reports it is extremely reliable and well loved by its owners, apparently including even you. Also, as you well know, once you have driven an EV, you never want to go back. So what better way to introduce American drivers to the joy of EV driving than a “transitional” vehicle that meets all of their needs, all of the time.
So why, with a potentially winning product in the short to medium term, why kill it rather than really market it now, before EV technology and infrastructure is really ready for prime time? Use Voltec technology to help transition America to electric vehicles.
“For road trips, “range anxiety” is a real problem”
Even worse for CUVs. To make up for higher aerodynamic drag, they have to add extra batteries, the weight of which requires yet more batteries to keep up performance and range.
Ralph L: I agree. Though I have never seen the numbers published, what you say makes perfect sense; I assume a SUV would be even worse than a CUV.
I honestly do not understand why an EV can only be used as a secondary vehicle in your opinion. Do you mean because of the price or the range? Price wise I understand kind of but the prices will come down dramatically once VW gets in the game. I just hope GM isn’t too far behind.
90% of Americans drive less than 60 miles per day. That is total miles.
If you need to go on a road-trip, you can stop at a Fast charger and charge while you eat or enjoy some coffee like everyone does that drives a Gas powered vehicle.
Momolos: Obviously I am talking about range and recharging time, not vehicle (or charging?) price. Work out the numbers, as I have done and already explained in multiple prior posts.
The numbers don’t work in flyover country, even if you can successfully find an available current technology Level 3 charger within what is left of your range. I can recover full 350+ mile range in literally seconds gassing up anywhere with the Volt, (just like a Gas powered vehicle) then if I want lunch, I can choose a restaurant I prefer, not whatever Tesla chooses to provide as you waste time charging for an hour. That is a long cup of coffee.
And to your other point, yes, I do drive less than 60 miles per typical day; worry free electric miles, because I have a easily refueled backup ICE generator with an additional 350+mile range.
I seriously doubt it takes seconds to fill a gas tank LOL
All kidding aside though, you realize that by the time GM has these upcoming EV’s ready to sell to us the public, Fast Charging will probably take 10 minutes or less. You can sit in your car and listen to music or whatever you like. Surf the Web on a huge tablet.
Now as far as pumping gas, forget about your Volt for one second.
My question was how often would a typical driver need to drive more than 300 miles in a single day?
You see the main issue everyone forgets about EV’s is that unless you have a long road trip ahead of you, why even visit a Fast Charging Network in the first place? You charge at home correct? So you basically never stop anywhere for added energy.
Now on the flip side of that, how often do we stop for Gasoline while driving an ICE car?
Do you see the difference now?
You’re only inconvenienced if you have a long Road Trip ahead of you that one specific day, or weekend.
Battery Tech and Charging Networks will be vastly superior in two to three years when most of these EV’s will come out. Who knows maybe it’ll only take the same five minutes to Charge up as it now does to fill up a Gasoline Tank.
EV’s are definitely the future and I for one am glad GM is allegedly taking this seriously. But we all know GM only goes about 80% All In with their vehicles. Always cutting corners to appease the Bean-counters. Hope this is not the case with the Cadillac EV. We shall see.
Momolos: I agree with you as to the eventual desirability of EVs. What I love about my Volt is that it is really an EV for 97% of my real world driving. I too am glad that GM, who helped lead the recent incarnation of EV, is apparently dedicated to an EV future. My only concern is as to how and how soon the 10 minute recharge can come about, and until it does, how happy customers will (or won’t) be in the near future.
I’ll let you know long it takes to gas up my Volt, but it may be a while because in my normal driving and with a Level 2 charger in my garage it may be literally months before I get the chance to measure it.
Since you seem interested in EVs, you might be interested in an interesting historical article by the Edison Tech Center at http://edisontechcenter.org/ElectricCars.html
Imagine my surprise when I read that the Woods Company’s hybrid designed by Roland S. Fend in 1914-15 has almost the identical functional spec to today’s Volt; so much for my touting the Volt idea as unique, but the Voltec technology is still the most elegant to date, even if the idea is a hundred years old!
The main point I was trying to make is that you would probably only have to use a Super Charger a couple times a year as opposed to pumping Gasoline at least once a week.
I live in the Midwest and pumping Gasoline while freezing my you know what off really sucks.
I’ll take the occasional Road Trip stop at a Super Charger over pumping Gas any day.
Now to be completely honest, I think and do want cars like Ferrari and of that ilk to still offer V8 engines along side the EV versions. I think cars like that will become more of a Sport/Hobby kind of thing.
David B: Excellent post. Thanks for the info on cold weather operation. We live in the Southeast and have only noticed a slight loss of range in winter, and with the Volt’s automatic seat and steering wheel heaters, we’ve never felt the need to preheat the car. As we keep the car garaged most to the time (but usually not continually charging) we haven’t noticed any continued drain to keep the battery warm. Is that just a “feature” on the Tesla or do all EVs, including the Volt do this?
I essentially agree with your future timing projection, though have might have said 20 years instead of 50. And I hope our Volt’s smaller battery has less environmental damage than the large range full EV batteries, But whatever, still a problem and a risky near term plan for GM.
“Today’s battery technology is far to hard on the environment, far to dangerous in accidents” unless you like being wrong, consider googling your own statements…
God/Bacardi: You have a quote that I cannot reference, then you claim someone is wrong.
Please explain to whom and to what you refer. Are you trying to promote or discourage the use of today’s battery technology, and/or are you criticizing those that think that it is harmful to the environment and safety?
I recognize it’s potential for environmental and safety risk, but also recognize it’s potential benefits in lowering tailpipe emissions. So I choose a compromise path, the Voltec technology, which reduces battery size to optimum for typical use while 90% of the time eliminating tailpipe emissions completely.
There are guide lines on the left hand side or you could try “CTRL F”; I was quoting David B…While it’s true that building an EV does hurt the environment more than building a conventional car, EVs quickly make up the deficit since even COAL fueled electricity (which is used less than 30% in electricity generation) is cleaner than gasoline…Then for the accident claim, he makes no statement to why an EV is more dangerous yet most EVs thanks to their batteries make the cars stronger and therefore safer…
God/Bacardi: Thanks for the clarification, I’m sorry I missed the reference.
Essentially, I agree with you. I guess I was focused on his comments on cold weather range degradation and didn’t really register his negative comments on EVs in general.
re: safety: I assume David was referring to battery fires in accidents? I guess when you hit a brick wall with your Tesla at 120mph, it can become dangerous…
Cobalt and other materials used in manufacturing batteries are strip mined, leaving behind tons of waste after processing.
Apparently you’ve never seen the spontaneous blow torch created by an Lithium battery. In car accidents fires are usually slow enough to get out. When there’s fire blowtorching out from under your car like EVs do in most pictures you better be a great long jumper.
Cadillac/GM will need some type of supercharger network for this to be a real success. Besides all the 3rd party charge points, all Cadillac/GM dealers need to be a place to go charge. Cadillac could go the extra mile by having nice lounge areas to relax while charging.
Win, don’t just compete.
Or they let Electrify America continue with their buildout. Electrify America chargers are capable of 2x the charge rate as Superchargers.
Tesla is upping it’s speed real soon too.
So 2021 but in reality 2022 the first electric chevylac?
They really have been hibernating the past 20 years.
Again late to the party in the wrong outfit as always and you can expect 5 year old “technology” and 5 year old interiors.
The competition already sells EV’s and certainly start this year if they don’t.
And this rendering (probably made by an unpaid intern) is a small hatchback and not a CUV.
It’s obvious marry is not trying to run a successfull car company, but getting GM ready to be sold to the chinese to maximize stock holders value and cash in a huge bonus herself.
The tired interior material trope hasn’t been valid for 6 years and technology one for 15.
This looks more like a hatchback sedan on a slab than a CUV. Nice, aerodynamic integration of the needed running boards.
I hope they aren’t spending a lot of time and effort trying to adapt the architecture for a real 57″ tall sedan bigger than Bolt. They call it “bandwidth”, which probably means “a long way away if ever.”
Where does Tesla put their batteries? Under the seats?
I think this Cadillac EV looks promising. The interior materials and Tech will let us know if GM will truly compete.