General Motors has detailed the motors it plans to use on its next-generation electric cars.
Speaking at a public policy meeting in Detroit, President Mark Reuss said The General will offer a 180kW front motor, 255kW front or rear motor, and a 62kW all-wheel drive assist motor on its Ultium platform.
As is usually the case with electric motors, these are scalable. The flagship Hummer off-roader will have three 255kW motors, for example, for a potential combined output of 765kW.
The 180kW and 255kW motors are permanent magnet units designed to cut down on the use of rare earth metals, the 62kW all-wheel drive add-on is an induction motor.
The new motor units will also include inverters, accessory power switchers, and brake regeneration electronics, all of which are currently separate from the motor itself on current General Motors electric cars.
General Motors will mate its new motors with its Ultium battery packs.
General Motors says its Ultium battery technology is capable of a total electric range of 724km, while Ultium-powered vehicles will be profitable from the first generation.
The company says it projects its second-generation Ultium battery packs will boast twice the energy density and cost 60 per cent less by 2025, bringing EVs closer to price parity with internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.
Development of the second-generation batteries is already in the prototype stage and they’ll go into production by mid-decade.
GM has yet to release any models with its first-generation Ultium batteries, though its GMC Hummer EV range will enter production later in 2021 and the Cadillac Lyriq will follow in 2022. It’ll release a total of 30 new EVs by 2025.
The first-generation tech is already 40 per cent cheaper to produce than the batteries used in the Chevrolet Bolt, currently the company’s only EV on the US market.
