The next-, fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade will feature no less than three powertrains, including a high-performance model. That much we’ve already reported. But what the full-size luxury SUV will also offer is a full-on electric variant, which we can refer to Escalade EV – for the sake of clarity.

A prototype of the fifth-generation, 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV undergoing testing in December 2018
Sources familiar with future Cadillac product plans speaking to our sister site, Cadillac Society, on the basis of anonymity state that engineers are aiming for a 400-mile range for the upcoming Escalade EV. That will give the future Escalade variant more range than the Tesla Model X, while aligning with plans to position Cadillac as the EV champion of the General Motors Company.
However, the Cadillac Escalade EV won’t launch in conjunction with Cadillac’s next-gen range-topping SUV, which is coming for the 2021 model year. Instead, the electric model will arrive later in the model’s lifecycle.
Besides the obvious benefits of an electric powertrain free of gasoline and associated emissions, the upcoming Escalade EV should also deliver astoundingly low NHV levels when compared to other variants of the next-generation Escalade, which will be offered primarily by eight-cylinder gasoline engines.
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Comments
I’m pleasantly surprised if this news is true.
This is what Cadillac needs. (well, this and better interiors)
And i hope it will still look bold on the outside as a real truck derived SUV should!
Not like an egg shaped hatchback as the model x.
I’ve owned many Escalades and now very much enjoy the new Navigator, but this could get me back in.
Speaking of bold on the outside, I hope the design is inspired by the Ciel and Elmiraj concepts moreso than the Escala. That concept’s exterior motif, especially on the XT6, is way too anonymous to properly represent any Cadillac, let alone the flagship SUV.
A 400 mile range EV version of the Escalade would be huge for Cadillac on the west coast.
It will be the most thirsty and most efficient model in GM’s lineup
Game Changer!
Adds credibility to the thought of an electric Silverado/Sierra, seeing as they are on the same platform.
I would be curious to see how the layout would be since from what the article seems to state, it will be built on the same truck/suv platform which is clearly designed for traditional ICE layout, will the there be a “frunk” where the engine was? Will the engine space be occupied by the batteries?
I would like to know more.
From what it seems, GM Authority and Cadillac Society aren’t saying more so as not to damage relationships with their sources, a move that is respectable. From everything I have heard about this, this report is spot on. The truck platform can be raised to take the batteries on the ladder frame… keep that in mind.
Also, yes this will be expensive. As a matter of fact, the next gen Escalade will be awesome and expensive and it will also move upmarket… which will have a ripple effect for other Cadillac crossovers.
When GM introduced the new truck platform they specifically stated it was designed with alternative power systems in mind, without saying exactly what they had in mind. I’m guessing there are already provisions for this baked in
Mark Reuss stated last month “This (BEV 3) architecture is the canvas on which we will paint a profitable EV program…We can build everything on this (platform) from just three drive units: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or e-all-wheel drive.”…
This must be insanely expensive. That makes sense for a Cadillac I guess.
Live to dream that under the 2023 Cadillac Escalade are bits and pieces used in the Buick Enspire concept car which means a 550 hp electric motor that will allow the 2023 Escalade EV to accelerate to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and the very impressive 370-400 mile range.
Put an integrated solar roof on it and extend the daytime range even further plus charging when parked in the sun.
Tesla sells solar panels and doesn’t offer them on their cars, even as an option…Reason is because they’re fairly inefficent, they work much better them an angle…Moonroofs also cut into surface area…
This is the first EV model at GM that has made sense.
The price point will be where money can be made. Also the volume of the ICE models will carry much of the development cost of the platform.
The low volume needs a high price model to be profitable.
Top it off the Escalade is already an image vehicle that people are willing to pay more for.
The one key is GM needs to change the styling in some way to make it known on sight that the owner has a special Escalade. It must be a tasteful change not just a name decal on the rocker or the like. Create a new nose to take advantage of no Radiator.
@Scott, I hope for a new styling as well. Something classy that does not resemble a hearse
As you do not need air intake and exhust, the design will be different (at least a little).
But in my opinion it should stay the same as another Escalade, there are more than enough EV bowls coming.
Does anyone else recall the Hybrid-X from a few years ago on the Tahoe and GMC Yukon? To be honest, I don’t totally recall if the Escalade had it too, but I believe it did. Anyhow….it didn’t sell well back then. I do recall selling a couple of the Yukon’s with the dual mode hybrid and people seemed to like it. Maybe it was just too soon for that type of vehicle?
I’ve been saying for years that a hybrid makes the most sense on a larger SUV/crossover vehicle where the MPG’s could use the most help. What I’ve never understood is why they (all brands, but mostly Toyota) went the route of putting hybrids into smaller cars that already had better MPG’s rather than concentrate on larger vehicles with bad MPG’s. This move seems smart for GM to do and hopefully more follow.
About 2 years ago, the latest info on the next generation of batteries stated that it will be 5 years before they come to market. That means 3 more years before the new type of batteries will be in mass production. That makes it about 2022 for the new tech battery types to be mass installed in cars. This means It’s possible that GM could place funding in one or more new tech battery companies to get first choice and exclusive use of the new battery types. This means a one or two year lead over any other car/truck company for electric vehicles. R+D work gets great tax deductions for any company, so this makes sense for GM, to be a test bed for the new types of batteries.
Many speculate GM will continue to use LG Chem and while they will use battery cells that are denser, charge faster, last longer, etc, they wouldn’t be a next gen battery such as a solid state…Musk said their EV motors now last 1M miles and he said next year the batteries will last 1M miles (doubtful Tesla would offer a warranty that long) which in itself is incredible yet even that doesn’t qualify as a next gen battery…
Musk personally does not own any patents on anything electrical. The electric motors are made by BMW and all the other patents that Tesla uses are owned by one of the board members of Tesla. If that board member was to die and get bought out of the rights to his patents, Tesla will die in 5 seconds.
For sure Escalade EV is a bling. I would prefer an XT4 or XT5 or XT6 being BEV as expectations of dead weight on the BOF platforms are high and unibody platforms may offer better packaging ,more aero and efficiency (my own personal level i will say a EV minivan is the most right thing as EV offers right packaging and minivan offers best use of space and 7 adult passenger carrying capacity ) .
On a cost prospective also , they may be more reachable for the public ( remember there is jaguar i pace which really is not selling that much even thought its the right car. So its really a great thing to find what Tesla offers and i-pace is not which make people go with Tesla and what people expect from a model Y ). EV crossovers are going to be big sellers in future.
Again for the car companies, this is the right time to redefine the style as grill less styles are getting popular (model 3 ) and functional packaging (example : frunk , better quality/grade materials and minimalism on interior ) is getting more attention.
Time to buy Gm stock