19 Battery And Drive Unit Combos Initially Planned For Ultium
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General Motors just unveiled its new Ultium battery technology, which promises to propel the automaker towards its stated goal of an all-electric future. The new battery tech will see application in a range of forthcoming all-electric vehicles, with as many as 19 unique battery and drive unit combinations planned at the outset.
At first glance, the 19 unique combos slated for the Ultium batteries may seem like a lot – until, that is, one considers the hundreds of internal combustion engine combos currently on offer.
“The vehicle and propulsion systems were designed together to minimize complexity and part counts beyond today’s EVs, which are less complex than conventional vehicles powered by internal combustion engines,” GM states in a press release. “For example, GM plans 19 different battery and drive unit configurations initially, compared with 550 internal combustion powertrain combinations available today.”
The various combinations will support FWD, RWD, and AWD drive types, with output ranging between 235 horsepower and 1,000 horsepower.
With GM ramping up its EV efforts, the flexibility of its various EV components, including the new Ultium batteries and GM’s various EV-centric platforms, is critical. While development costs for these technologies are high, their flexibility and reduced complexity translate into low production costs in the future, as well as a more responsive approach to market demands.
“Our offering won’t be just one ticket,” said GM President Mark Reuss at the recent GM Capital Markets Day event, in reference to GM’s EV strategy. “This is architected to be scalable and used for multiple brands, for multiple variants and for multiple customers.
“So when the market demands those variants, where can our competitors go? We can go to variant X, Y, or Z quickly,” Reuss added. “We’ll be introducing multiple models a year, be as market responsive as we want to be and as the market dictates.”
Indeed, complexity reduction has been a major focus for GM as of late, even beyond the Ultium battery technology and new EV efforts. As we covered previously, the automaker managed to reduce the number of parts used in production by 12 percent last year, and has plans on reducing parts usage a further 25 percent in 2020, providing even more cost savings.
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Why does it still feel like we’re a long ways from cool cars in showrooms?
I feel like certain car companies, like GM, are trying to run away from their true issues and using this new electric bandwagon to fix their issues. I don’t think that this Electric market is going to fix GM in any way, at least, not in the way they think it will. I actually like GM, and I’m saddened to see just how far in the toilet this company is and it’s all because of poor management and very poor ideas. First they got rid of Pontiac and now Holden, but they hold on to brands like Buick which is an absolute cancer to the company, all because they wanted a company in China, a nation that no longer wants any American vehicles, and a market we should have stayed out of in the first place. What GM should do, it drop Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac from the market altogether, bring back Pontiac and Hummer and just have GMC, Pontiac and Hummer.
Pontiac would be the gasoline car lineup, GMC would be the truck and SUV lineup with Denali being the top of the line luxury and Hummer would be the electric arm of the company. I absolutely agree that electric vehicles should be a part of the future of the auto industry but a balanced part only. Having roughly 5 different Hummer vehicles in different sizes such as a small electric crossover, a mid-size electric SUV, a full size off road Electric SUV, a mid size electric pickup and an full size electric pickup would give GM a presence in the electric market place. GMC vehicles would include the GMC Canyon, a Canyon-based GMC Jimmy, a GMC Yukon, a GMC Acadia (based on the VSS-R platform to compete with the Durango/Explorer) a GMC Suburban, the GMC Sierra and GMC Sierra HD. Pontiac would take over the car division with a VSS-F based Pontiac Grand Am, and the VSS-R platform Grand Prix and Bonneville. You don’t need any V8 engines, however, the 310hp 2.7L turbo-4, the 400hp 3.0L twin Turbo V6 and the 465hp 3.6L twin turbo V6 need to be present with the 10-speed automatic and the Tremec DCT behind them. The VSS-R platform cars need to have AWD systems along with the high performance stuff to make them cars that are more useful in every market. Give them a lot of that amazing Holden DNA and General motors will have a simplified global lineup that will be profitable for years to come.
Class A stupid
Lucky for GM, you are not in charge.
I think what many miss here is the astronomical cost of development of a vehicle today.
Granted GM over the years mismanaged their divisions. Pontiac they just never knew what to do with them.
But even if they had things right GM needed to pare down the number of cars and divisions. They tried to save them with shared platforms and engines like everyone else but badge engineering failed. Pontiac Died in 1979 but many failed to notice the later cars were just restyled badge cars. Hey I love Pontiac and still own one.
Today the trouble is even with only 2-3 divisions at most companies they are dying slowly. The cost of multiple platforms, the cost of emissions testing each and every engine combo and crash testing each change runs into the Billions. Just to do the Bison was millions to just add some skid plates and a plastic trim part under the headlamps.
The move to electric is two fold. One it is to save money as GM pointed out the batteries and motors can be configured to meet many platforms and Types of vehicles. There is little testing as emissions are eliminated, no fuel tank crash testing etc.
In production there are less parts. This lowers design expenses as you do not have to do near as many designs. It cut production cost. It cuts labor as less steps to assemble.
The only hang up is the initial cost as the battery cost are still high but after they realize return on investment the prices will drop like any other tech product.
The point here are only part of this.
GM is one of the few companies that can afford to do this on their own. They can and will sell or license the technology to others for even more added income.
This technology point will also bolster stock as Wall Street is done with the old automakers. Look at Ford stock prices and see the damage they suffer. They are trying the EV products but they have had to do a lot outside the company with buying into a EV truck program. Note too the Mach E was testing at GM so GM has some kind of hand here and I am sure they were paid for their help.
We have yet to see the last automaker fail and many are now looking to partner and merge to survive.
GM a while back took the road to invest in technology. They have put them self’s to be the one to go to vs the one looking for a partner. In business there are times and changes mean you have to cut back to move forward.
Am I thrilled with all the changes ……no. But I understand the things that are in play today cost and regulation wise and if things did not change GM was going to be toast.
It used to be all about size and volume as that made money when cost were low to mfg product.
Today it is all about cost and profits. You can sell less product and make more money and that is what it will take to survive.
Cars are costly so many can no longer afford a new car. Also the market as whole is in a decline. So making more per unit is important.
The other thing is if they can cost cost and add to profits they may be able to offer some more affordable models as battery cost drop.
I am sure there will be some forms of interesting and fun vehicles. If there is money to be made with them they will build them. As it is the sport coupe formula like the Camaro and Mustang are failing as the markets have changed.
Also note GM is not going to kill the ICE engine anytime soon. There are plans in place to have them in various forms till 2050 baring changes in laws.
These thing you have to look big picture
The story the other day about SEMA was miss leading. The market is still there but many of the companies are bought up by a few corporation’s . Then the retailers are mostly the large mail order firms. Even the local shops buy from them. They all are now focusing on trucks and Wranglers as that is were the sales have gone. Few people buy and modify new performance cars. They are buying trucks and doing lifts or bolt ons.
I can see electric performance parts too just as we see with RC cars.
While painful there will still be some good with the losses. We just will have to learn to adapt.
It is like the cell phone you don’t want to be left with a flip phone when everyone is moving forward with a smart phone.
you do have valid points in what you’re saying. Yes, it takes a lot to manufacture new cars and GM is wasting billions of dollars on vehicles such as their entire Buick lineup and nearly everything it makes. There are two major reasons why car companies such as GM are in the dumps. Reason 1, their cars are way too over priced 2. their cars are boring. It should be perfectly obvious to them that no one is going to pay outlandish amounts of money for over engineered, broken boring cars. Companies like Mercedes Benz, Mclaren, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti, or any of them don’t seem to be having issues selling their expensive sports cars and they do everything under one name. Yet GM can barely sell a camaro, let alone much else. The reason car sales are in the toilet isn’t because people don’t want sedans and coupes anymore. It that people are not going to continue to waste their money on vehicles that aren’t worth it anymore. I guarantee if Pontiac was still in business, GM would be fine right now. The other reason that cars like the Mustang and Camaro are failing is because they’re not really practical and honestly they are pointless. Both Ford and GM have spent countless dollars creating the ultimate sports cars out of the Mustang and Camaro with the GT500, the GT350 and the ZL1 and ZL1 1LE but only a very few people will every buy these cars and even less will use them for what they’re intended. First of, they’re rear wheel drive only, meaning while they are great for dry performance, you can only use them in nice weather and you have to have another car if you’re going to own them. Secondly, they’re too small to be comfortable for just about anyone. With all of that, why on earth would most people pay that much for a car that isn’t really that enjoyable and who really wants a 4cylinder mustang or Camaro? That’s not the point of those cars.
Another point I happen to agree with you on it the fact that cars are costly and many can’t afford a new car and making more $$ per unit being an important factor. With that being said, bringing the whole corporation down under basically one umbrella GMC(with Pontiac being the car lineup & Hummer being the electric lineup) You cut cost by not making so many different vehicles. There is no reason to have a Tahoe/Suburban/Yukon/Yukon XL//Escalade/Escalade ESV or Silverado/Sierra/Silverado HD/Sierra HD or any of the sister Chevrolet/GMC vehicles or anything in the Buick lineup at all. The thing about Pontiac was that it was always a well appointed vehicle right from the gate (the same as how GMC was always a better appointed vehicle than Chevrolet). If you want to save money and make more $$ per unit, stop making duplicates and just do one lineup and do it right. You don’t need Caddy or high country if you have Denali. You also don’t need as many patents for so many different models, you don’t need as many chassis if you’re going to have less models, the company can cut back on materials because you’re not making as many different models across different brands which means less different radios, seats, fenders, bumpers, grilles, lights, doors, less PCMs, less engines, less transmissions, less engine and transmission types, less wheel types, less brakes, less different types of suspensions and all of that stuff. This goes right along with your statement of sell less product and make more money. GM could nearly stop making V8 engines altogether and focus on the new 2.7L Turbo-4, the 3.0L Twin Turbo V6 and the 3.6L Twin Turbo V6 as well as it’s V6 diesel engines for the pickup trucks. As far as heavy duty pickup trucks. if the Hummer line makes good on it’s power numbers, there will be no need for a heavy duty diesel pickup which means no need for the Sierra HD as that would go to Hummer. Honestly that lineup I mentioned above goes with everything you’ve said in your statement. As far as manufacturing, alot of parts can be 3D printed now so even that should cut down cost. Although some may think this is “Class A stupid” it’s actually very well thought out, being the fact that it cuts out everything that would be not profitable and replaces everything with something that would work in today’s market because even though people like comfort, not everyone wants and SUV it’s just that the offerings in affordable cars absolutely suck in today’s market because all of the good cars that used to be made are gone! You figure, exciting, affordable, powerful cars that offer comfort and a practical trunk and back seat are limited to vehicles like the Charger and Challenger and Dodge doesn’t always give that warm fuzzy feeling of reliability. Offering a Challenger size AWD coupe with 465hp/450tq from a twin turbo 3.6 along with a sedan and an SUV, a full range of SUVs and trucks all under one umbrella with different trim levels that are all well appointed and all the way up to Luxury with the Denali packages on certain vehicles. Would definitely improve GM alot. Also, with all of that being said, GM can offer these vehicles for less and still make more profit because now There is a global company that offers vehicles that are stylish, with performance and practicality built right in and they’re not just one trick ponies anymore. And nearly all of this can be done with things that GM already has right in it’s parts bins from around the world so it’s not like they’d be starting from scratch.
You made the comment about the cell phone. And you are right, the flip phone is outdated and smart phones are the way to go. However, most people who buy smart phone for reasons beyond just the fads aren’t going to spend top dollar on a smart phone that isn’t going to be an investment. an LG smart phone is no Iphone, but it comfortably and stylishly does everything it needs to do and more without breaking the bank and being extremely limited to only certain things. I’d rather invest my money in something worth while, than to waste my money, settling on something that i only got because it was the lesser of two evils.
Lots of holes here that need filled.
Buick is here as early all their models are already sold in China. Even low volumes they all make money less the cars. They tried the cars but they just never sold no matter how good they were.
GMC is the most profitable division. It is like printing money. Denali just make even more money.
The brands you state are fun are also all priced at levels were they can make fun cars that sell at less than 3,000 units per year.
The real truth is the market is driven by volume boring CUV models. Toyota and Honda both went to the top with them. Hyundai has done it with less expensive boring models. Performance is expensive and most people just want realizable, safe and affordable.
The expensive models with the Camaro and Mustang make money as they are so expensive. But the volume cars like the lower priced V6 and V8 models as they make little money. Each need 100k units a year to make money and both are in decline.
The Challenger is a very old car they keep growing more at to keep it alive but all three are at risk of dying if volumes don’t improve.
Sadly the EV line may keep the performance cars alive at lower volumes.
They have never been about practical they were born to be cool not practical with large trunks. They were built originally to be affordable and fast. Today they are just fast.
As for the engine swapping them around is not cheap nor will all fit. It cost millions and tens of millions to make some of the changes that will not bring better mpg averages and require new crash test.
Sadly GM did waste some money along the way but often it was on products that many asked for. Wagons, convertibles, sedans have all been tried yet they did not sell. People knew about them but no one put their money were their mouth was.
Everyone likes to grow. Chrysler out there. They appear to be a happy cool company. But look inside they really only have trucks and a Jeep making money. FCA needs a Partner to survive and finally found one after years of trying in PSA. The both did not get together because it just felt good. It was about surviving. Cars like the Demon and Hellcat all are cool and may make some money but FCA lacks a Equinox that sells nearly 350k units a year when merged with Terrain in sale it is closer to Half a million.
It is about the return on investment not just in the auto industry but most lines of work today. It is not fun or cool but it is the way of survival.
This EV thing may not work but if it dies it could really pay off. GM still has a lot to do and get right. Mistakes will be made and how they are handled will determine the outcome.
You claim that GM cannot sell cars, then you bring up Bugatti and MacLaren as examples of companies that sell lots? Their sales are measured in dozens. You claim that sedan sales are not dtopping, yet Mercedes, Audi, and BMW are also seeing sedan sales slump, and crossover sales skyrocket.
We get it. You are bitter you can’t buy a Grand Am anymore. But GM cut the underperforming divisions. Chevy sold way more cars than Pontiac. It would have been stupid to axe Chevy to keep Pontiac.
Gotta love GM speak: I’m pretty sure “architected” is not a word and “our offering won’t be just one ticket”. They literally have a way of speaking in Warren that is all it’s own. Through the years, there are many more examples.
As for the platform itself, it’s sounding more like the K-Car with the the 2.2 Turbo. Before it was over, Chrysler scaled that thing up, down, and all around building vans, luxury sedans, sports cars, a quasi exotic, and everything else in between off that one humble little platform.