General Motors has filed to trademark the term “Tecra”, GM Authority has uncovered.
The Detroit-based automaker’s March 4th, 2020 application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is assigned serial number 88820135 and lists the following goods and services category:
Modular battery system for powering electric vehicles comprising configurable, rechargeable battery stacks; rechargeable batteries for powering electric vehicles
The GM Authority Take
Last week, General Motors unveiled Ultium – a set of proprietary batteries for its upcoming onslaught of electric vehicles. Since then, the automaker has filed to trademark Ultium as a term as well as the logo with the USPTO. However, GM the name Tecra didn’t surface whatsoever.
But based on this trademark filing, it would appear that GM is looking to also use the Tecra name for its modular battery system for electric vehicles. It’s currently unclear how the Tecra name will be used in conjunction with Ultium, and whether the two brands for EV batteries will come to define different types of batteries, or perhaps be used for different brands, assuming Tecra makes it to market.
As for Ultium, the batteries are unique in the industry because they allow for the large-format, pouch-style cells to be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack. This allows engineers the ability to optimize battery energy storage and layout for each vehicle design.
GM Ultium battery packs will range from 50 to 200 kWh, which could enable a GM-estimated range up to 400 miles or more on a full charge with 0 to 60 mph acceleration as low as 3 seconds, much like on the upcoming GMC Hummer electric pickup truck.
GM BEV3 electric vehicle platform will cradle Ultium batteries
Ultium-powered EVs are designed for Level 2 and DC fast charging, and most will have 400-volt battery packs and up to 200 kW fast-charging capability. The truck platform – which is expected to underpin the GMC Hummer pickup (SUT), GMC Hummer SUV, an electric version of the Cadillac Escalade, plus several other models – will have 800-volt battery packs and 350 kW fast-charging capability.
Cruise Origin autonomous ride-sharing vehicle
The Cruise Origin, an electric self-driving ride sharing vehicle that was revealed in January 2020, was the first GM product to use GM’s new BEV3 electric vehicle platform and Ultium batteries. The next will be the Cadillac Lyriq luxury SUV, though its reveal has been put on hiatus thanks to the Coronavirus outbreak. The reveal of the GMC Hummer EV was to follow on May 20th, but it’s unclear whether that event is still on track due to the virus.
Meanwhile, production of the first GM electric vehicle powered by Ultium batteries is expected to begin in the Fall 2021 at the GM Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. The facility, which until recently built the Cadillac CT6 and Chevrolet Impala, is now being converted to become GM’s first assembly plant fully dedicated to the production of electric vehicles.
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Comments
Wasn’t Ultium the platform, not just the battery. Comprised of the battery, motors, and controller?
From what I understood, ultimately is the battery brand.
Techra sounds a lot like Tesla when spoken. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Elon is suing GM over this.
sounds more like chevron techron.
EV future, tacky designs so you know it’s electric, but also ridiculous names so you know it’s electric.
Makes me think back to Toshiba’s top tier notebook line of 20 years ago; but hopefully the new BEV3 battery platform will be superior to the battery design used by the Chevrolet Bolt which failed in some cases twice and needed replacement.
Haha
What a name.
Couldn’t copy Tesla and closer.
Too bad GM is 10 years behind Tesla