General Motors has laid out plans to begin offering electric vehicle component sets for upfitting applications, which it says will help “meet the growing demand for zero-emissions technology,” in industries including aviation, automotive, marine and construction.
General Motors Ultium electric drive units
The automaker plans to roll out its EV components strategy through its existing GM Powered Solutions arm. The automaker says GM Powered Solutions “will begin introducing tailored electric component sets,” in the near future, which will allow customers to integrate the latest GM EV technology into custom applications. Put simply, GM Powered Solutions will begin offering GM electric motors, batteries and other components necessary for converting the powertrains of fleet vehicles, construction equipment and other machines from fuel-powered to battery-electric.
GM also plans to offer battery-electric conversions for marine applications through its GM Marine arm. The automaker recently invested in Seattle-based company Pure Watercraft and plans to work with the company to develop and commercialize battery-electric watercraft and accelerate the transition to electric mobility. Additionally, the automaker announced a strategic collaboration with Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc. this week, which will see it provide EV components to the company to electrify its various products, which include airport baggage tractors, cargo tractors and belt loaders, among more.
These new EV component strategies compliment the Chevrolet Performance e-crate powertrain, which was first announced at the SEMA360 online show last year. The Chevrolet Performance e-crate powertrains allow customers to purchase a turnkey electric powertrain from GM for installation in a classic car or another project car. The next-generation of GM’s e-crate powertrains, which will utilize its Ultium modular battery design and Ultium Drive motors, will go on sale in 2022.
Travis Hester, GM vice president of Electric Vehicle Growth Operations, said the automaker’s EV components business will help GM diversify its income with regard to electric vehicle technology.
“GM has an established strategy, network of integrators and co-development agreements to apply an extensive array of components and solutions to a broad range of customers and use cases,” Hester said. “As companies across many industries look to reduce their environmental impact, GM is uniquely positioned to serve as a leader not only through exciting new EVs across our brands, but through additional technology applications, and we look forward to bringing customers – existing and new – along with us on our zero-emissions journey.”
More information on GM’s EV components strategy is available via the GM Powered Solutions website.
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Comments
I have to say, the prospect of retro-modding a ’65 Caddy DeVille convertible with an Ultium powertrain is VERY appealing!
This is cool… I have a C10 I am restoring, would love to go EV, but need the best components.
The Brandon crowd keeps dreaming. Time to put stocks in mercury motors. Maybe they’ll start building outboards to retrofit our crappy eletric cars
After last night they had a show called Charging across America. It was on NBCsn. They took 5 EV car and tried to cross the USA. It took 9 days with stops along the way to do different task. It was very good till they had to try to get charged in Indiana the charging stations had Tesla’s using the spaces to park in for better parking spots. Then some of the recharge stations wouldn’t charge the EV cars. So, my thoughts are we have a long way to go on stations along the road. Also how do you charge at apartment complex’s.
Basically new zoning laws are requiring that apartment complexes have a certain number of EV charging spots.
If it’s a condo, the condo owners will pay to have EV charging installed. Installation at a condo should cost less, per vehicle, than home EV charging.
If it’s rental apartments, the landlord will find renters want EV charging, and landlords will install EV charging eventually. Renters will rent at places that offer EV charging.
What I’m hearing is there’s going to be some sweet parts out there for home projects.
Interesting with the railroad industry that after owning EMD for so many years, GM is now in bed with the old archrival Wabtec (the spin off of GE locomotives). Meanwhile Cat is trialing hydrogen on the EMDs. GM has kicked around hydrogen for a long time but never able to commercialize, will be interesting to see if Cat can succeed.
Retro fitting is just not going to work.
Our older cars are just not suited to be retro fitted with present tech. Note most cases they are doing trucks, El Camino and Blazers all with beds to hold the batteries. Even then they are limited as they all don’t have th3 aero trucks that gain range.
Maybe in the future when a very power dense battery that is smaller can this be done.
Two changing an old car to EV it just removing the real reason to keep an old car. The fact of nostalgia with the noise, feel and smell of a ice engine.
It takes a complete package to make EV even close to practical. Aero, structure, and packaging is key. That has to be designed into a EV.
Now GM app,using this tech to all areas like airport equipment and other mobile things is very forward thinking. They can use their tech to leverage cost and improve income. In some areas the autonomous tech can also be applied.
I would like to see them develop a range of charging solutions for home and commercial use and sell it like GM did refrigerators years ago. Give people options and ideas of what they can do and what fits their needs best. I expect that is in the works but just not announced yet.
Barra knows that GM car brands, aside from in China, have lost desirability whether we are talking Australia, Europe, and the US coasts. She has no solution on how to reinvigorate Chevrolet much less Cadillac–a brand Ruess says is getting it’s last chance!!
GM can produce trucks and luxury large SUVs/AT4X through GMC, family movers via Buick, plus Brightdrop, GM Defense, boat motors, and other technologies involving Cruze and Ultium. Barra seems to be letting go of old GM much like Fiat did with Chrysler LLC & chasing new revenue streams as opposed to taking damaged goods like Chevrolet global.
Barra has been in charge of GM since 2008….She is the main force in driving the decline of GM….She must GO! GM’s ….all EV strategy will kill the company….Should take a long look at successful competitors like Toyota and Ford….She’s too stupid to realize or perhaps she was placed into her position to do exactly what she is doing? Kill an American Icon….RIP GM! You were once the pinnacle of American greatness
where is all the power going to come from to charge these BEVs ?? we have brownouts now when A/Cs are running full blast in the summer. people will have to shut off their A/C to charge their BEVs as most newer homes have 100 amp service and a lot of older homes only have 50 amp service service
Will not be getting one until they get rid of still needing a regular 12-volt battery to start it. I was at my dealer recently and the Bolt in the showroom was dead from sitting! LOL.
Drove to Tennessee and back to CA a month ago. I saw few charging stations.
You gentlemen who do not believe in other means of propulsion, you go back to the days of gas automobiles, when the majority of people believed nothing would replace the horse and buggy.
Surprise, what do we have today. Now we are having new ideas about propulsion for vehicles, I ask you to wait in about five years, then make your comments about electric or etc. Eventually gas prices will go higher to $10 a gallon or more. $200 dollars to fill a 20 Gallon tank. Gas supplies will dwindle someday, maybe not in older peoples lifetime, but will in the younger generation. Then most of the population will be happy for other propulsions for vehicles.
don’t you think electricity prices will go up as there is more demand?? they will have to improve the grid and build more power generation plants and you will pay for that in your electric bill. there is no free lunch.
If gas goes to 10 bucks a gallon the politicians better take cover! Gas autos are better than a horse and buggy. EV’s are not better than gas autos. Ponder your statement while you sit in line at a charging station.
Please, could someone tell me if all fully electric brand cars have a 12-volt battery system ( a regular battery) like the Chevy Bolt does to start and run whatever!??
Do these automakers realize that 60% of electricity in this country is still generated by fossil fuels? But there they go continually hyping the zero emissions electric vehicles . Idiots, must be democrats.
they expect everyone to have solar panels on the roof of your house. this is all about being a money maker for pols elections for political donations
I think GMs should like the customer decide what type of vehicle they want to drive!! Why all of a sudden it’s only one type that we can buy? Gas, diesel or battery operated should be the decision of the customer!!!!
Eventually the government will put a tax on kilowatts at charging stations for charging electric cars, thats coming next.