General Motors Leads an Electric Future
September 17, 2020
- Author: CTA Staff
General Motors is working toward its vision of a world with zero emissions, on a path to a future where every vehicle is an electric vehicle.
The road to mass adoption of electric vehicles may have slowed due to the onset of the novel coronavirus, but the growth opportunities are still robust, and vehicle technology powerhouse General Motors (GM) is championing an all-electric future.
Mass mobility and the advantages that come with it have also introduced significant environmental effects. General Motors, a long-time CES® exhibitor and speaker, believes there is a shared responsibility to protect the environment. The company’s work on electric vehicles is contributing to a future of zero emissions.
The Tech Leading an Electric Future
GM has a multipronged plan to drive ownership of electric vehicles, including a focus on two major areas:
Ultium batteries and modular platform – The company’s electric vehicle platform is developed to be flexible enough to support a wide range of trucks, SUVs, crossovers, cars and commercial vehicles. Paired with GM’s Ultium batteries — large-format cells that can be stacked vertically or horizontally to optimize battery energy storage for different cars — the platform can power electric vehicles to meet various driving preferences. New battery developments can also make electric vehicles more affordable.
Electric vehicle charging – GM’s approach aims to enhance public infrastructures and improve charging capabilities at home and at work to make electric vehicle ownership convenient. From supporting a grid that uses renewable energy sources to increasing the number of fast-charging stations across the United States, the team hopes to encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles.
Joining Forces on Shared Visions
GM has various allies as it aims to accelerate electrification. The company has partnered with CES exhibitor Honda Motor Co. to jointly develop two new electric vehicles and collaborate on electric vehicle research and development. The exteriors and interiors of the cars will be designed by Honda and will include GM’s batteries and OnStar services.
General Motors has also acquired a stake in electric truck startup Nikola, and it will help Nikola engineer and manufacture its battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, including its pickup truck. The startup had set out to make zero-emission big rigs using hydrogen fuel cell technology, dovetailing with GM’s environmentally friendly goals.
General Motors sees an all-electric future creating thousands of new, well-paying U.S. jobs. From allocating capital and engineering resources to its self-driving and electric vehicle programs to devoting its assembly plants to electric vehicle productions, GM is taking tangible steps to drive growth in the space.