General Motors is one of the most outspoken supporters of electric vehicle technology. The automaker already has a battery-electric vehicle in its portfolio in the way of the Chevrolet Bolt EV and it plans to invest $20 billion on EVs through to 2025, but despite its confidence in the emerging tech, it knows that it will still take a long while for battery-operated powertrains to take the place of the internal combustion engine.
Speaking to Bloomberg this week, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said the company “believes the transition” to electric vehicles will “happen over time,” and that the internal combustion engine is here to stay for a while longer. Bloomberg also asked her if she believes electric powertrains will have displaced the combustion engine in 20 years, to which she replied “it will happen in a little bit longer period [than 20 years], but it will happen.”
GMC Hummer EV teaser
A number of major obstacles stand in the way of the mass consumer adoption of electric vehicles, including battery cost, charging infrastructure, real-world range and charge times. GM currently has a number of new battery-electric vehicles in the works, including the GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Cadillac Lyriq.
A key part of GM’s future electric vehicle strategy is its new proprietary Ultium lithium-ion battery technology. The Ultium battery packs will range in size from 50 kWh to 200 kWh, with the biggest pack providing up to 400 miles of estimated driving range in certain vehicles. Ultium packs will utilize cells made at the new Lordstown battery plant that GM is currently building in partnership with South Korean battery supplier LG Chem.
Barra was also asked about the coming advent of fully autonomous vehicles. She believes General Motors’ Cruise subsidiary will have a fully autonomous vehicle on the road within the next five years and says the technology will be safer than a human driver when it launches.
“I definitely think it will happen within next five years,” the Michigan native said. “Our Cruise team is continuing to develop technology so it’s safer than human driver. I think you’ll see it clearly within five years.”
GM had previously said it planned to launch a fully driverless taxi service before the end of 2019 but was later forced to postpone the rollout of the technology indefinitely due to engineering setbacks. It debuted the Cruise Origin driverless vehicle earlier this year and plans to have the vehicle in production at its Detroit-Hamtramck plant by 2022.
For now, you can subscribe to GM Authority to stay up on General Motors electric vehicle news, Mary Barra news and around-the-clock General Motors news coverage.
Comments
So why this break neck speed to get all electric within the next few years?
Investing in future tech is not a bad thing. EVs will definitely reduce smog, but I’m not sold that they are as amazing for the environment as some like to claim, maybe someday in the future they will be. I would like an EV for my next vehicle but my schedule and living arrangement isn’t entirely conducive to owing one yet. I think my next vehicle will probably be ICE, but ill certainly consider EV’s as well.
Because the change will happen over time, not just at year 20. It will be continual with some segments switching sooner than others. Vehicles like the Hummer EV make sense. They don’t expect to sell 500k of those, but it’s a way for them to keep ahead of most of the pack as far as EVs are concerned. Also by doing something today you advance the technology and your knowledge of the technology. Airbags existed in the 70’s but it took decades for them to become standard.
Someone is looking for a way out….
I mean yeah, GM is definitely back peddling on their stance a little. I think what they might be realizing is that there are still millions of buyers in the Bolts segment that what an ICE. I think GM was being a little short sighted in assuming that the Bolt would just fulfill the needs of an entire segment. If given a choice of current GM subcompacts I’d pick the Bolt over the Trailblazer with it’s anemic 1.3t. Ultimately though, as Chevy’s subcompact and compact lineup stands right now, I’d be looking at a Japanese or german make for my next car.
Or she’s being realistic. If they instantly started producing only EV’s how long do you think it would take to get all ICE vehicles out of the market – 10 years – 20 years?
The problem is with long range timing is the used car market. A flood of EVs means that the USED car market will be flooded with old ICE cars. Meaning prices of old ICE cars will collapse. Meaning trade in value is near 0. Meaning when your brand new ICE car drives off the lot and becomes a used car value collapses. Who will drive a new ICE car?
Speaking of used car values. Now that they are talking about “million mile batteries”, when you trade in an EV its going to retain much more value since the battery will still have plenty life remaining and can be repurposed for continued use. This will also be more incentive for buyers to go EV.
Some people probably wont like what I’m about to say, but it’s what I believe. If you expect to trade in your old car and get anything more than a couple thousand bucks you are not making the most of the investment in your old vehicle. You might as well purchase vehicles as close to new as you can, with the longest factory warranty and drive them into the ground until they are essentially worthless. This is how to get as much value as possible out of a daily driver, obviously maintain the vehicle and don’t beat on it, but trading in old cars while always result in a net loss because the dealer has to make a profit on it. The used car market has always been collapsed, that’s why cars are called the worst investment you’ll ever make, besides maybe a boat?
Actually this is what most of the automotive engineers have been saying including the GM engineers.
They have targeted wand have plans for ICE to be part of the market till 2050.
They have also stated that the EV would be 1/3, ICE 1/3 and Hybrid to be 1/3 of the market between 2025 to 2030.
Note these statements were all documented last fall in the SAE Automotive publication.
Here is GM’s take on this, They had tried to make the very day cheap cars electric but there is little to no money in them now. SO they took the page from Tesla and are now working on higher end models that not only will make money but also will bring more development and lower cost. This will pave the way to the cheaper models.
The first up will be the Hummer that will prove to be very popular and profitable. Next will be the Cadillac line that right now has little to lose and much to gain by being different.
GM Also will gain more by being able to develop and sell and license these system just as Intel does their processors. Honda already is on board and it looks like Ford has already used them to work on the Mach E to some degree since it was testing at the Warren Proving grounds.
The real problems are the CO levels will need to be cut by at least 28% here and we may see bigger cuts overseas. Also if the election goes left not right we can see some really major regulations that will all but kill ICE possibly sooner.
At this point as long as the first models are profitable EV models GM has nothing to lose here.
Trust me I am not a big EV fan at all but with the way things are progressing GM is going to be fine.
One thing many over look here is the new EV models will be built much like computers. They may have a similar platform but they will plug in the parts needed that create each one. THis will make it cheaper to build and it will also make for less parts. Assembly will take less people and Cost per unit will continue to decline in cost.
So right now is the time to start this as it will take time for the cost to decline, the customer acceptance and to spread out the development dollars.
But the truth is if you still want an ICE GM product they will still be there paying for most of all this to take place.
I agree that the new Hummer will be profitable, but with an estimated starting MSRP of over 70k it will be far from popular. The Rivian will be available probably with a lower base price at that time, which will eat into potential sales. Not to mention for 75k you can also buy an absolutely loaded GMC Duramax Denali 2500 which is certainly going to be far more practical for almost all truck applications than both of these electric vehicles.
does anyone know a tree hugging truck driver with $75K?
You find them with Model 2 owners who paid over 100K.
what is the model 2?
if hybrids are going to be 1/3 of the market, why would gm give up that segment?
so if you want a vehicle with great gas mileage w/o the drawbacks of an EV, gm has 0 product for you.
The problem with Hybrids are they add more to the cost of a vehicle and do little to advance EV development. They don’t lower the cost of future Ev models.
If you look most Hybrid models Most are from companies that can’t afford to do a full EV program in house. they are buying time, They either can’t afford it or just are unwilling to invest yet, It is a risk but the risk is coming down every year,
As it is the EV is getting to the point accept for charge times still over 5 to 10 min. They have good range now and the cost are coming down on batteries. It should not be much longer for charge times. Investment like GM is doing pays off is faster development.
Also If GM designers the better system first you can dictate the infrastructure.
You are very wrong about hybrids. Ford was the second mass hybrid seller since 2005, and makes the BEST of all of them. They have several new hybrid and EV models starting with their two great selling vehicles: Escape and Explorer, and soon with their best seller: F-150 truck.
I have a 2014 Fusion Hybrid and it has been my best vehicle (even better than my 1995 Buick Regal sedan). In six years, the only part replaced is the oil filter once a year. It still has the original factory air filter. The brake pads look new. The engine only runs about 20% of the regular run time, since I drive electric the rest. The engine bay has no belts or pulleys because everything in there runs on electricity, except the engine. And the bay is very clean since there is no oil, fluid, or gas leaks. No maintenance except adding washer fluid.
Having two power sources is not bad nor costly, The Hybrid models cost the same as the regular models, but you get over 44 MPG (I get 54). Even in EV mode for a small 1.8 kWh battery, I can drive two miles. As for EV charge time, you cannot refuel a gas car in less than five minutes because you have to add travel time to the station. Actual EV owners recharge overnight at their homes (some do it for free) while they rest and sleep. Can you refuel at your home while sleeping or for free?
EVs will take over gas cars as cars took over horses. And it will be done in less than 20 years because it has actually begun. Driving a hybrid gives me a head start on that path.
My biggest concern with hybrids is the cost of maintenance. I have heard some first hand horror stories about the hybrid Ford Escapes. With the both the gas engine and electric motor there is a lot of added complexity that could equate to reliability issues down the road. The hybrids are a compromise and I’d just prefer one or the other.
Sorry I have no delusions clouding my thinking as you,
The only real Hybrid that made a dent was the Prius, Out side of that there have been a number made but all sold in much lower volumes and each added cost to the the model it was in.
NO ONE CHARGES FORE FREE LEGALLY. If you plug in at home you are paying for it,.
Most hybrids are not embraced by the people who own ICE and they are not truly loved by the folks into pure EV models unless they can’t afford a good EV,
Now if you want a used Hybrid you can get a deal on one as most sell cheap. Since most are on sedans few want and the added electronics are also not a desired thing in a used car,
I am glad you like the ones you have but for the most part you are the odd one out.
Ford has limited EV models because they can’t afford more, FCA has little as they can’t afford it. VW is behind but catching up as the diesel issue pushy them to EV. Toyota is reluctant to make the investment yet but will when the time they feel is right. The rest like Honda will join someone to cut the cost and buy technology as it comes.
I see GM in the future being like computer component companies. They will develop these systems and make money from others with it as well as their own products.
The Toyota rav4 hybrid sold more units than the Prius last year.
Hybrids are an interim solution but one that will see large numbers of sales in the near term before EVs mostly takeover.
I think people are moving up to the Rav from the Prius. It is a CUV and it lacks the horrid Prius styling.
The net gain is minimal if any.
Only GM employees care if “GM is going to be fine”. What about GM’s customer base. My next truck is not going to be from a company that sees no future in their current products. This will be a boom to RAM and Ford. GM once again ignores their current customer base. Yes, “they are going to be fine”.
So you prefer they’re a follower versus leading the transition to EV?
As is, they’re playing catch-up on range to Tesla. Their new battery tech could leap frog Tesla and then they need to continue to be proactive in developing their technology.
Finally, they’re going to continue producing fueled vehicles as long as there is a demand. Win-win for all.
Biggest reason it might take that long here in the States is due to our Legislation. Both Parties are bought and paid for by Big Oil Money. I am not stating that EV’s today are for everyone just stating that the Shift in Technology will not take that long anywhere else in the First World nor should it. I mean in Germany they just passed Legislation that every single Gas Station has to have Super Chargers. Europe has a Date set when ICE vehicles will no longer be allowed to be sold as new vehicle models. China has done so as well. We are still trying to Push for more Drilling for Oil and Coal here in the States.
I just hope and Pray that Our Big Three are not left in the Dark when the inevitable EV S-Curve hits. Hope all three will be ready for it. Once people realize the upcoming Tech that is on the way in the EV Segment, it will literally make Zero sense for the Majority of people to purchase ICE vehicles. That will include rural areas as well. The Tech that is being worked on right now is Mind Blowing.
you really think the democratic party is getting a lot of the big oil PAC money?
@Steve
Yes. It is a Fact. All one needs to do is some research. Both parties do.
I am not singling either Party out.
both get money but where does vast majority go to? you don’t have to do any research to answer that.
@steve
I totally agree. My fear is our Country Falls behind China and Europe.
I do not want to see that happen simply because our Politicians are Paid off by Big oil.
“it will happen in a little bit longer period [than 20 years], but it will happen.” What will happen exactly? There is no metric that determines how long that will happen because there has been EVs for over 100 years, many drivers have done the transition from ICEV to EV since 2009, and many will do so by 2021.
What limits EV sales is marketing! The issue of price or range is baseless because there are ICEVs that cost much higher, and many ICEV owners never drive over 300 miles in a month or even in a week because they don’t need to. So why complain over prices or range? If you need more range, get a hybrid. And if an EV price is high, you don’t deserve one. Someone else does.
GM, make and market your EVs! You have never done good marketing for the Chevy Volt (aliens?) and there is none for the Chevy Bolt EV. You are to blame for developing a product and not “selling it”!
Many people drive more than 300 miles in one day every few months to visit family, friends, or other things.
For the price of a base Chevy Bolt you can get a Cadillac CT4 with a few options, they are very different cars. I prefer the Bolt, but it is much louder and the interior is nowhere near as good.
There are a few reasons to not get an EV but I do agree that GM would sell way more Bolts and would have sold more Volts if they had marketed them more.
p.s. what do you mean (aliens)
With recent incentives through the last 6 months it seems like a Bolt might now be considerably more affordable than a CT4. about a healthy $5-7k gap, which is really where the price points should be.
True, with the current incentives the Bolt is (in my opinion) one of the best cars for that money, however for the money of a CT4 there is no EV that has the same interior quality as far as I know.
At 27k the Bolt is without a doubt the GM car to buy at that price point. The Malibu 2.0t is nice at that price too, but the lack of a hatchback is really a bummer. Do you have winters that dip below freezing, what’s the real life range of a Bolt on a day the temps stay around freezing?
In Pennsylvania winters my Volt loses about %10-%20 of its electric range.
When you can drive 500 miles before a recharge at any convenience store that takes no longer than it currently takes to fill your gas tank—and only then—will EVs be universally accepted. Until then, they will only be an around-town novelty for the well-heeled.
Yes that time is coming and it is much closer than we all think. Maybe not in this Country as our Government isn’t pushing Hard for EV’s as Europe and China are but it will happen.
Technology always (The Good Technology) starts off with the eager Group and well to do at first but then as the prices come down, it always hits the S-Curve and it is Game Over for the Legacy Tech that existed at the time.
What we the GM Fans should be worries about is the Flood of incoming Startup EV Companies around the World. I pray that when the inevitable S-Curve hits our Big Three will be able to Compete.
Almost no kid today knows what Nokia is and just how HUGE they were in the Mobile Industries. I barely know of Nokia as I started work at a Cell Company and that was the Joke of the Day. What ever happened to Nokia
Glad they are drawing back a bit. I agree that the “at least 20 EVs by 2023” plan was a bit………………………optimistic. Many people are still considering or biased t o ICE.
GM isn’t really drawing back. They have already released, announced, or shown (to media and investors) about 15 EVs so far. That 20 by 2023 was globally btw.
Evs are better than ice for daily commuter cars. Evs will be better as Ubers/taxis. Evs will be better for delivery vans.
Evs for forseeable future will not compare to ice for long haulers, towing or very cold climates.
Therefore there will be both.
10 years to commercialize a battery breakthrough (twice the range at half the cost) plus 10 more years of switching over (similar to cars replacing horses and buggies). 20 years sounds about right.
NO! NO! NO!
That is NOT how technological transitions work! They happen VERY fast!
Either transition quickly or die.
Check out the work of Tony Seba and RethinkX.
2025 the whole ICE market will collapse.
Horses and cars lived together peacefully for decades
@Restomod
Different times. The Main reason per Historians as to why it took so long for the Automobile to take over the entire Horse and Buggy Industry was two fold.
First, it was completely ALL NEW Technology nobody had ever seen before. Second, Gas Stations didn’t exist everywhere.
Modern day is completely different. Once people realize the Benefits of EV’s, the S-Curve will take over as it always does with tech. Think of all the ways people get information today. It will Spread extremely fast.
In my humble opinion it will get to a time in the Future when Automakers will basically need to give ICE vehicles away.
Think about how hard it was to sell regular Cell Phones once the S-Curve of Smartphones took over.
So, your point is?
How long do you think it will be before EVs are 100% of new car sales?
How long until selling (new from the factory) gas cars is illegal?
How long until all gas cars are illegal?
When should GM replace all of their ICEVs with BEVs?
@Restomod
Nothing will ever be 100%
There are still Landlines and Flip Phones being sold to this Day.
I do not think ICE vehicles will be illegal. Even Europe and China allow for a Small percentage in the Future. I personally think ICE Cars will become Niche Market. I think it will be for a small market of makers mostly Sports Cars. Will be Taxed to High Heaven most likely.
Tesla Model 3 the last Two Months has been the Best overall VEHICLE sold in the UK.
Tesla sales in China were up 250% last months and Chinese EV Auto Maker Nio just had its best ever month as well. So I think the S-Curve might be starting pretty soon just not here in the States.
Actually what really held up the transition from horse to car was two things. Reliability and cost. It was mostly cost though.
The car really did not take off till the Model T arrived and that really made things change and change fast.
Today the cost of an EV is the main factor with charge times secondary. The cost is coming down and should soon. Get to the point a normal car will cost the same as the EV. Once this happens people will take more interest and the things like more chargers will come along. The lack of chargers is mostly because the lack of demand.
Now we are seeing more investment and that the higher end models will sell to pick up the development cost that leads to cheaper models the cycle will speed up,
The greatest issue has been they have tried hatred to make a $30K EV that was losing money. Now that the S model showed people will pay more it has solved the profit issue and like most tech like Anti lock brakes ands stability control EV will be more expensive high end options and will get cheaper to be profitable on the lowest priced models.
@C8.R
I can see those points. I think with the new battery Tech that is being worked on right now price wise will become so much lower that it will not make any financial sense to keep investing in ICE Tech to keep them legally certified.
boys and girls, the word of the day is S-Curve!!!
Tony Saba is delusional and his writings fiction.
I think GM wants to get ahead of the EV curve and compete with Tesla while also still serving ICE customers, best to have it while don’t need it rather than don’t have it while needing it.
Mary Barra lives in a fantasy land and if GM doesn’t change they will go the way of Kodak, all she needs to do is go to any Tesla showroom and see the crowds of people from all walks of life viewing the cars then travel to the nearest Chevrolet dealer and maybe see 5 customers. I’m not a Tesla fanboy just telling it how I see it in my town
Barra has been wrong about rushing into EVs too soon. She’s finally realized that GM has not produced even one profitable ev, or even one that has been well received. Tesla is several years ahead of everyone else. If GM can build a better Tesla , let’s see it . Otherwise keep working on EVs but offer competitive well built and designed ice vehicles and try to reclaim some of your lost market share. As far as fully autonomous vehicles,has anyone looked at the horrid condition of our roads? How on earth can a self driving car manage our broken pavement, faded or non existent center and lane markers ? They would have to be restricted to states like Florida , Arizona etc where you can actually see the lines on the road. Any states in the rust belt ,where the lines are faded and covered in rock salt six months out of the year would be a disaster.
Or her plans haven’t changed. When GM announced back in 2017 that they would have 20 EVs by 2023, that means they had started planning years before that. This is just how long it takes to develop an all new platform, using all new technology that can be applied to multiple vehicle segments. Also having to wait until battery prices are low enough for those vehicles to be profitable.
Mary Barra has made some tough decisions to go electric. Selling off Opel, shutting down plants, and killing car lines wasn’t an easy decision. Additionally, look at the staff that are migrating from ICE to electric within GM Propulsion and it is glaringly obvious that GM is serious about EVs. Mary didn’t say it was going to take GM 20 years. She said it’s going to take US consumers 20 years. Given that cars last more than 10 years, 20 years isn’t unreasonable. My two vehicles are 8 and 9 years old and I won’t be surprised to get another 5-6 years out of either. I’m not confident that EVs that meet my requirements that I can afford wlll be available when I’m looking to replace my current vehicles.
I agree with her that it will take decades. I agree with for trying to get ahead of the game. What I don’t agree with is forsaking the ICE Vehicles which are the very thing that will keep them alive until electrics become mainstream. I realize with limited funds you can’t do everything but you could at make your ICE Vehicles more competitive. Keep them in the race so that you can afford to be the leader in Electrics.
Finally someone high up with some sense telling it like it is. All these EV fanboys that think EVs are the immediate answer to transportation live in the cities where EVs are great commuter cars and who never get more than 5 miles outside the city. Mary Barra hit the nail on the head, it’ll take a whole generation before EVs can be a viable alternative to ICE.
I’m not planning to get an EV until the following happens:
At least 300 mile range
I can charge the vehicle at any gas station
And I can charge it up to capacity within 10 minutes
Until then I’m perfectly happy driving the car that burns gas
@Rakesh Chugh
So you will be Driving an EV pretty soon then HAHA
300 Miles are already here. I mean 400 Miles are already here as well. And Charging in 10 Minutes is right around the Corner.
Superchargers are being built out at slower pace though. I would say in less than 5 years you will have the opportunity to switch if you so chose. In 10 years it will probably not make any sense to Purchase an ICE Vehicle.
Miss Barra, No disrespect but, you need to get out of your PC corporate shell and talk to real people. With your PC thinking GM will continue to shrink and become even more insignificant of a car company then they already are. It is your thinking and all the other PC CEO’s before ya that have made my favorite car company more unimportant then ever. I see GM still thinks they are going to tell people what they will drive and how often. That mistake was a big marketing blunder years ago and I see GM still has not learned anything. Go suckup to all your globalist elite monkey friends.
And the truth is her globalist elite friends would never buy a gm, guarantee they all drive Lexus, Prius or bmw
The overall car market is shrinking. The difference is GM is actually right sized for the mark with the right product mix unlike 2008.
Which people do you want her to talk to? Central states where GM is strong and already has the trucks and SUVs they want? Or on the coasts where GM is relatively weak? The Tesla Model 3 is the best selling car in California, and California has the highest auto sales out of all states.
Have no idea where you got your info. perhaps from Tesla but, Tesla is not even close to being the number 1 selling car in California. You see Corollas and Kia’s and Civics, Altima’s everywhere. Any Tesla once in a while. There still is not a place to charge everywhere either. Not everyone in Ca. can afford one, even used.I live in So. Cal.
Google: “top selling car california”
Miss Barra, No disrespect but, you need to get out of your PC corporate shell and talk to real people. With your PC thinking GM will continue to shrink and become an even more insignificant of a car company then they already are. It is your thinking and all the other PC CEO’s before ya that have made my favorite car company more unimportant then ever.GM used to be the big dog. Now just a little mut, because of really bad CEO’s for years. I see GM still thinks they are going to tell people what they will drive and how often. That mistake was a big marketing blunder years ago and I see GM still has not learned anything. I drive what I want to drive, and it isn’t an EV. And, there are millions just like me. How stupid to give away your customers to other and smarter marketing brands. Go suckup to all your globalist elite monkey friends.