General Motors has debuted its new portfolio of Ultium Drive electric motors, which it says will help facilitate its eventual shift to a fully electric portfolio of cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs.
The Ultium Drive family will consist of five interchangeable drive units and three electric motors. The automaker refrained from going into the specifics for each of these electric drive units, but it did say they will offer “industry-leading torque and power density across a wide spectrum of different vehicle types.”
“The power and versatility of these drive units will help GM migrate high-output segments like pickup trucks and performance vehicles to all-electric propulsion while providing the bandwidth to propel GM’s EV portfolio well into the future,” the automaker said in a prepared statement.
All five of these drive units (a drive unit consists of the motor/motors, inverter, controller and differential) will feature one or more of the three electric motors. GM says most setups will integrate a primary front-wheel drive motor, which can be configured for front- or rear-wheel drive, while AWD models will have a dedicated all-wheel drive assist motor.
Additionally, most of the Ultium Drive components, including the metal castings, gears and assemblies, will be built at GM’s existing global propulsion facilities on shared, flexible assembly lines. The automaker says this will allow it “to more quickly ramp up its EV production, achieve economies of scale and adjust its production mix to match market demand.”
Cadillac Lyriq BEV3 platform with Ultium batteries, Ultium Drive drive units
Just like its Ultium battery technology, GM is hoping that it can sell its Ultium Drive motors to other automakers and manufacturers in order to fully leverage the large investments it has made into EV technologies.
“GM has built transmissions for many notable automakers,” Ken Morris, GM vice president for Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Programs, said this week. “Making motors, transmissions, driveline components and systems are among GM’s best-known competencies, and our manufacturing expertise is proving not only transferable but advantageous as we make the transition to EVs.”
GMC Hummer EV BT1 platform with Ultium batteries, Ultium Drive drive units
All future GM EVs featuring Ultium Drive motors will also leverage its Ultium battery technology. One of the first vehicles to arrive with Ultium motors and batteries will be the Cadillac Lyriq crossover, which will go on sale in late 2022 as a 2023 model year vehicle. The GMC Hummer EV pickup truck and SUV is slated to arrive within a similar timeframe and will also leverage Ultium technology to try and outgun rivals like the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck.
GM will continue to provide more information on its Ultium batteries, Ultium Drive motors and other EV technology as it prepares to launch its new line of electric vehicles in the coming months and years.
Comments
The GMC Hummer EV will be arriving in 2021 before the Lyriq in the US.
The automaker says this will allow it “to more quickly ramp up its EV production, achieve economies of scale and adjust its production mix to match market demand.”
Wow, cool so they can rapidly adjust from .0005% demand to .0006% demand, wow.
with such low numbers, there is but only one way to go and that is up!!!!
i think that is what everyone is betting on.
Steve,
This among so much more here is what complexes me, ( left that one open for you )
So you are saying, you think, that GM is just preparing, for the customer, who can already buy a Tesla, or BMW, or AUDI, ETC. and that the demand will be so great that GM will have to be ready for it ?
Now that is optimism !
Will it get there, sure I think so some. So write this down, I think, 10 years before GM sells EVs in the numbers Tesla does today ! Well in the US anyway. China on the other hand, there government has set the system up to demand it in a way it will work for most customers over there !
Did the GM EVs of the past sell ?
Volt ?
BOLT ?
How is this revolution different ?
There is no system in place.
No charge network.
And these are expensive vehicles.
Maybe GM is just setting up to become a niche company.
Make a few Corvettes, a few Hummers, a few Cadillacs, and call it a day.
Did the GM EVs of the past sell?
Volt : Produced 160,000+ and a mix of 20k of the rebadged volts in other markets.
Bolt: Around 90k have been produced so far and markets are opening in several different countries.
Spark EV: 7,400+
ELR: Just under 3000
GM was only a few months behind Tesla in production numbers when they both lost the EV tax credit in the US.
China: GM is selling more EVs there than Tesla is currently.
The number of EV charging stations are increasing daily in the US.
As of May last year there was 20k stations with 68k connections, this number is exploding thanks to electrify america and other charging companies expanding the network.
GM is partnered with EVgo to install even more chargers.
EVs are going down in price every iteration.
Nebula1701,
What are the numbers ?
Can you read what you just wrote and give numbers ?
Like :
Tesla sold over 891,000 units globally from 2012.
What did GM sell ?
What profit did GM make ?
You can not find any GM sales numbers outright.
I did find where GM wants to sell 1 million by mid 2020s and that they will probably hit half that by 2026.
Tesla HAS sold almost 1 BILLION already !!!!!!!!!
Com on give us some real numbers here, not just a bunch of clumps of dreams that might come true, in a couple years, of course !
And in China, please tell me where you get the numbers ?
I see in june of 2020 Tesla sold 15,000+ Model 3 and the next 4 sales numbers added together only equal that !
Are you talking the $4,000.00 golf cart EV that goes 65 MPH ? I heard GM got orders for 15,000 did not see yet they sold that many .
You have to work for GM.
List the sales numbers and the names of the vehicles and where you found the information, bet you cant.
i don’t think tesla has sold a billion vehicles. i think it was a million.
right, i don’t think gm competes with those automakers you listed. at least right now. if prices don’t come down, gm is going to struggle because they don’t offer enough to warrant the huge EV price premium.
but let’s drink the gm’s kool-aid and make the BIG assumption that the ultium battery/motors etc … offer a distinct advantage over competitors and that advantage isn’t leapfrogged/copied anytime soon.
then gm as a supplier might gain traction. why should other transportation companies/startups/ponzi schemes invest billions in R&D on components that they can buy off the shelf from gm? honda is thinking along those lines.
so in 10 years, gm’s success in EVs isn’t only measured by how many cars they sell. it will also be measured by how many vehicles are powered by them. maybe gm will be the center of an EV ecosystem for a big chunk of the transportation sector.
Electric Crate Motors and Drive Units is becoming big business and GM now has a range of “Plug and Plaÿ” (excuse the pun) components for the EV Conversion Market. Everyone should check out “EV West” and others on YouTube to see the variety of EV conversion projects. GM also showed the E-10 electric Pick-up at SEMA last year; a converted Classic C-10. I for one would love to be able to convert a 2nd Gen Corvair Corsa to electric. GM Owns the lions share of the ICE Crate Motor Market with various LS and other V8 Engines for the Resto-Mod market and now they are the first with EV Crate Motors and components.
Wikipedia, and easy to find everywhere.
Tesla sold 367,500 in 2019, 50% more than 2018, and 3 times as many as 2017.
Since 2012 Tesla has sold 891,000 units, so you are correct not quite a billion yet at the time of the Wikipedia update.
And that was Navigant Research data.
And that GM kool-aid is HUGE, HUGE, BIG, BIG !!
Your Kool-aid would somehow make one believe that GM somehow, is going to run head to head with this ?
Its like comparing a Cadillac to a Mercedes, Ha, Ha !
Or a horse not even born to a a triple crown champion !
Again Tesla IS DOING THIS, NOW, not promising it for the next 10 years !!!!!
The Tesla factories ARE built, or just about done, AROUND THE WORLD, THE GLOBE, PLANET EARTH !!
GM is promising just to get started, TWO YEARS FROM NOW !!!!!!
GM can NOT get a transmission to shift in 100 year old technology !!!
Tesla IS SENDING HUMANS TO THE MOON !!!
Tesla IS LANDING UNMANNED ROCKETS, ON UNMANNED SHIPS, IN THE OCEAN !!!!!
Tesla IS THEMSELVES SHOOTING HUNDREDS OF SATILITES AROUND THE PLANET EARTH !!!
And people here think once bankrupt, GM is going to prevail ?
And buy selling the backyard mechanic an EV powertrain for their 50+ year old vehicle.
AGAIN, this right here is how and why GM just can not get it !!
Because there ate still old GM people who are telling them they are great !!
Ill let you in on a secret, GM hasn’t been great, or even good for 30 years now !!!
Still trying to survive off the old and dying boomer, while trying to kill the everyone else on the planet while doing it !!
Classic C-10 at SEMA, yep, that’s going to do it, GM will be great again !
You just wait and see !!!
In two years, it will be great !!
You just wait !!!
Tesla is not sending humans to the moon.
Tesla is not landing rockets on ships in the ocean.
Tesla is not shooting hundreds of satellites.
Mister Torque,
You are correct, the leader of Tesla is doing it !
What is the leader of GM doing ?
@ lifelong.
When did GM get a leader?
I can’t tell if you’re joking or just really bad at math. 891,000 is not even a million.
gm has a lot to prove and a healthy dose of skepticism is warranted.
but the EV race is just starting. the teams are just getting on the field. it is too early to write anyone off.
The Model 3 and Model Y are the only models it’s competition has to worry about. You can honestly say prior to the model 3 everything was pilot program status. Most couldn’t afford the S or X. So really they don’t have that much of a head start verses it’s competition. And with all of this time since 2012 they still have major quality control issues.
The future for EV growth is longer range, faster charging, lower prices due to lower cost that still produces affordable EV models of a nature people would want to buy.
New technology is The driver here. GM has a better lower cost battery. A family of motors that can be configured for a number of vehicles just as the battery.
The first step is to get the ROI from the Hummer and Cadillac as well as selling or sharing the tech to other automakers.
GM did 5he same mistake everyone else tried to do. They went for the low cost Chevy that had no chance to bring RoI any time soon. These small high priced a Chevy models established the needed relationships and suppliers but no profits.
Tesla went up scale because they had to. But they found people were willing to pay a lot for these models and the S was brining in money. Now GM with lower start up cost with these higher priced models will see a return much sooner and then apply the paid for tech to Chevy models that will return a profit.
In time Much sooner GM will have a model for every price range.
GM already is working with Honda Officially. We have seen the Ford Mach E at the GM proving grounds testing. GM is also working with other smaller start ups with tech. This is much like how Intel and Microsoft worked in the computer industry.
There will be a number of customers for EV tech and GM is working to fill these needs not only in their own products but of others who can’t afford to do development themselves.
Also once the battery cost continue to to decline and with the new platforms along with the lack of many parts required in ICE. EV models will be cheaper and easier to build.
Smaller plants, Less workers, less parts, ability to build a number of vehicles on the same line will drive profits. Add to this the lower development cost and the lack of EPA testing.
I envision EV cars at the same prices or just under ICE at some point.
As for charging. Once they get charge times you what it takes to fill a tank every gas station will have fast charges at islands.
We are not there yet and it will take more Time but this is where it is going. Ice is still a part of the plan till 2050 with engineers.
C8.R,
You and most here had nothing but crap to say about EVs for the last 10 years !
When Tesla was starting, YOU and most here said EVs would never work !!
Time and time again, GM and their leaders, even the likes of Lutz himself, said they just don’t see it working.
Elon would be broke !
As Elon kept talking and promising, you and the people here had nothing but hate towards his plans.
When he would promise, things that came true, you and people here said the SEC should stop this !
Now look ! GM is promising, and talking, with NOTHING to offer !
Now through Nikola in the mix of lies !
This is what I love about you C8.R ! You think its impossible, and a horrible idea, until GM jumps on board, then you think its the greatest idea in the world !
Not one independent thought when it comes to vehicles !
you have to admit that honda gave gm a big vote of confidence.
I don’t understand your argument against this. GM is in the business of selling cars, whether they be electric, gas, hydrogen, etc. Are you saying they shouldn’t even try?
ma7mgte,
No I am not saying they should not try, of course they should try.
For one, I am putting the constant pressure on, and EVERYONE here should be also.
For some reason, I would bet just marketing, GM has stated that the products are what the customer wants. I believe this to be untrue !!! What customer ? Like I have said before, I have been driving GM for 40 years now, not one questionnaire from GM on what I would like. How the h3ll did GM get over 7000 people to say they liked this truck dash ? I simply do not believe it ! Maybe 7000 GM employees feared for their jobs, but 7000 + truck owners ? And what the h3ll did these 7000+ people drive before, a 1975 square body ?
GM needs to reach out to the Tesla owner, the Mercedes owner, the Ford owner, see what they want, why they quit driving GM ? There are millions of then right ? GM was the largest at one time, these people should be easy to find.
So its just the pressure for me to say, GM you are behind, you have nothing EQUAL to what is in the marketplace NOW. Don’t sit there and think how you can save a penny, you are loosing millions, discussing those pennies !
And I do understand fanboys, I was one, and until I was screwed over by a lying a$$hole GM service manager, I was never here, or anywhere. Just went on with my life, driving GM, without troubles ! OVER A $16.00 PART, THAT I PAID FOR ONCE ALREADY !!!
Take C8.R for example, ( sorry C8.R ), I was him, just like him. GM would come out with something and I would jump on board. I have owned 5 Cadillacs, 5 HD Duramax’s, I own a 1958 Vette, I own a 1968 Camaro, I own several 1968 C-10s. AND I will tell you, the last three GM products, other than the 2020HD, ARE CHEAP JUNK !!!! And GM is doing NOTHING to help the customer !!
There are not enough C8.Rs left in the US any longer, or at least buying GM products that matter !
GM needed to shore up its loyalty, first !!!
Talk with their customers, FIX the ” Known Faulty ” issues, with the vehicles they make TODAY !!
This EV venture is just another GM ” name change ” throw spit wads at the wall and see what sticks !
Why, because GM does HORRIBLE customer communication !!
I wish GM all the luck in the world, I will not invest in them however. Chances are I will own one of these GM Cadillacs in the future, unless they go broke doing it.
But the reason GM is loosing market share in the US, and is a shell of what it once was, is because they do NOT listen to the customer calling them on the phone DAILY. Daily this is happening, and GM is just shuffling them off to the dealer that started the HORRIBLE customer support in the first place.
Most people in the US now, know someone personally that has been screwed over by GM !
How by making a new EV does this change anything ?
Many here say, the customer does not even know who makes the vehicle they drive, I say that IS true, until you have trouble with it, who do you call ? You find out quick who makes the cheap junk you drive ! And you avoid this, by buying another brand. GM up until now has done a good job of badging product as to coverup who they are, make two or ten of the exact same thing with different headlights, but this is now failing just like the minivan before, and GM is behind, why, because they are listening to C8.R types that only say one thing ever, GM you are the greatest and whatever you do is always the best, if you tell me 4 tires and a 2×4 seat is what I need, GREAT I never knew that’s all I needed, THANK YOU MAY I HAVE ANOTHER !!!
I never said EV models will not work. I just said Tesla is not going to last. While they are still here they are still not out of the woods yet. The only thing has saved them is the artificial stock prices.
The GM model of EV building was flawed. It made sense to make the cheaper models while no one thought the high priced ones would sell. GM was smart enough to make the change.
Tesla proved it would work on the S. Porsche has made the same choice for the VW line too.
These are not my ideas but just what is happening the industry as a whole is adjusting to this process of bringing new models to market. All I am doing is observing the changes.
The future was not in the Volt or Bolt. Gm learned as did many others.
We will still see changes and adaption to how EV products are made, designed and sold. Moaner this is a whole new market with a whole new product and things are going to change much.
One thing that that still has not changed is Tesla still has a lot of growth in MFG to do. They are still slow and late to market with new models and updates. They have gotten away with this as they were the only show in town. Now that others are entering the market they are no longer shooting fish in a barrel so they sales will become more difficult over time. GM on the other hand as well as others are just entering. They already have the MFG sites and and other models to support the growth of these segments.
I still see at some point Tesla may have to merge or partner with another maker. The stock market at some point can and will shut the door to the easy money. They will seek a return at some point.
GM will still have a tough time at start up. The profits will not be immediate. But in time they will come.
You appear to confuse the EV programs to a race. Just getting to market first is not how you win this one. The race is to build the first EV models that will drive profits.
No one is making money now but we will see who is really going to show a return on investment.
Written by a true boomer !
Just a couple things !
First, artificial stock prices, now that is funny. The youth that have the money, do not even own a vehicle, and they are the ones investing in Tesla ! How do I know this ? I personally know quit a few ! Yet look at GMs artificial stock price being bought back by themselves and the China owners, now that’s artificial !
And how is it that GM who yes makes ICE vehicles, is now a leader in EV manufacturing ? you do realize Tesla IS DOING IT right ?
I love it C8.R, ” The GM model “, Blah, Blah, Blah !
Literally, have you been watching what is going on in the world ? You have a 100 year old ” model ” for it ?
The US fed is soon going to have to pay US citizens to borrow money !!!
The fed has tried for 20 years now to raise interest rates and inflation, with NO luck !!
We are simply DONE paying boomers, for screwing up the world we live in !!
Watch your ” model ” Good luck with that !!!
Now GM leaders have listened and DO realize the wave is moving, yet STILL trying to adapt the 100 year old ship, as the majority of the 100 year old ships have sunk or are sinking !
I just love that, ” the GM model was flawed ” Your da/\/\ right the GM model was flawed, it has been flawed for at least 20 years now.
And if that isn’t a GM tag line, it should be !!
They realized their model of forecasting was wrong and two to five years later changed it !!
Ha, Ha, Ha,
That is what I am saying here, and you keep making my point and STILL cant see it !!!
The truck interior, ” the GM model was flawed ” and now they are redoing it !!!
The new Cadillac onslaught, ” the GM model was flawed ” and now they are redoing it !!!
The EV, ” the GM model was flawed ” and now they are redoing it !!!
You STILL cant see the trouble here, even as you yourself continue to say it !!!!
THE GM MODEL IS FLAWED, its a 100+ year old US boomer capitalist model.
The EV vehicle is the total opposite of a boomer Chevy V8, you know this. And yet you STILL think GM can ” redo its model ” of how to move them, based on the boomer V8 !
And lets not forget, I LOVE THE BOOMER V8 !!!
But you STILL can not get it, ” based on what GM has learned over the last 100+years of manufacturing ” that give them the advantage.
HOW, WHY ?
GM has been making automatic transmissions for how long ?
And they STILL can not make one shift !!!
WHY ?
Cant they ” redo their model ” and fix them ?
I fully agree with last paragraph that the ICE will be around thru 2050. As EVs grow in volume the cost to build and supply the charging Infrastructure will be passed on to users and increase the cost of electricity. At the same time reduced demand for gasoline will reduce its cost making EVs less economical in comparison. At current electric and gasoline cost levels there is little difference in fueling costs between a hybrid (Prius, Ionic, Insight) and an EV when electricity distribution and charging inefficiencies are included. GM has mostly given up on sedans and if they give up on ICE too they may be competing for a very small piece of the overall vehicle market.
Just seeing who is reading, a million a billion.
No that’s not true I just read it wrong.
Da// dyslexia !!!!
I cant wait wo see this all happen.
It is so fun to watch !
Dyslexia doesn’t add three 0s!
Donezo,
Are you sure ?
Do you have it ?
Is it the same for everyone ?
I won’t try to explain what I see when I look at printed text, the ones and zeros have taken over !
What happens when china copies all this stuff and offers it for sale much cheaper?
Cadriver,
China is building this stuff, who do you still think owns GM ?
Have you looked at the parts on your GM assembled vehicle ?
Why do you think the Cadillac Lyriq will be released in China first ?
GM will release the Hummer in the US first as GM realizes they need something off road looking in the USA !
And release the Lyriq in China as GM sells more Cadillacs in China than the USA !
Catch up here, you are at least two years behind, more like 6 years behind, as far as China made GM products !
lifelongGMowner
Other than documenting the decline of GM, how does your rant answer the question?
Cadriver,
I thought I answered your question.
Question: What happens when china copies all this stuff and offers it for sale much cheaper?
Answer : China is doing this now. GM is China and China is GM, now !
Why does anyone engage with this guy? He is either troll or too dumb to put sentences together.
I am so sorry xzy89c,
Its too dumb, that’s what it is !
Remember Einstein had a hard time communicating !
And sentences, what are those anyway ?
I code and text most days, is a sentence like cursive writing ?
I’m just kidding, yet most of the car guys I know, have no idea what a sentence is, or how to create one.
Although I have always thought that, English and Literature was a very important skill for a tech person !!!
I’m kidding again, they are worthless to new tech, have you heard some of the new tech people talk and communicate ? they are like talking to human robots !!
I have wondered why people engage also.
Even like C8.R, he engages to let me know he doesn’t read my comments or have time to engage, now that’s a hoot!!
Kinda like you, I guess, did you not engage ?
That can be the question I guess, why did you engage ?
Also xzy89c,
In the USA we say things like he is either A troll.
Not like in Russia,
He is either troll !
But you did a good job of putting the s on the end of sentence S
Not like Russia where it would be:
He is either troll or too dumb to put sentence together.