Electric vehicles are the answer to eliminate emissions, accidents, and traffic congestion
Unveiled Cadillac Lyric Celestic based on Ultium platform
Entering the logistics business and challenging urban air mobility
GM Chairman Mary Barra introduces the future mobility strategy. Photo = GM
General Motors (GM), the largest US automaker, will invest 30 trillion won in electric vehicles and autonomous driving programs by 2025. It also revealed a plan to introduce the concept of urban air mobility for vertical take-off and landing and to enter the logistics business based on autonomous driving.
GM CEO Mary Barra said, “Invested more than 27 billion dollars (about 30 trillion won) in electric vehicles and autonomous driving programs by 2025 at the world’s largest IT and home appliance exhibition’CES 2021′ held online on the 12th (local time). “I will do it,” he said, revealing its future mobility strategy.
In his keynote speech, CEO Barra said, “GM is proposing ‘3 zeros’ such as’zero accidents’,’zero emissions’, and’zero traffic jams’ as a vision for the future, and the key lies in electrification.” He expressed his determination to innovate society.
“Electricization reduces emissions and strengthens the connection between vehicles and transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion and accidents.” He emphasized.
The concept of vertical take-off and landing urban air mobility unveiled by General Motors. Photo = GM
CEO Barra introduced’Bright Drop’, an electric truck service for delivery based on autonomous driving. Bright Drop is composed of’EP1′, which travels short distances with luggage, and EV600, an electric van that travels medium and long distances with EP1.
GM explains that when the delivery driver drives the EV600 to the delivery destination and takes out the EP1, the EP1 carrying the delivery box follows the delivery driver. The EP1 can carry up to 90kg of cargo and travel at speeds of 3m per second.
Since the delivery driver does not have to carry the cargo directly, the physical burden is reduced and more goods can be transported. In an empirical experiment with FedEx, GM analyzed that if Bright Drop was applied, the delivery driver could handle 25% more shipments per day.
A bright drop in the autonomous driving-based logistics business unveiled by General Motors. Photo = GM
GM plans to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution caused by logistics delivery in the city center through Bright Drop. The non-face-to-face logistics market is expected to continue to grow after the novel coronavirus infection (Corona 19) pandemic. GM predicts that the parcel delivery market will increase to 850 billion dollars (about 934 trillion won) in the US alone by 2025, and the traffic volume of delivery vehicles in the city will also increase by 78%. The bright drop announced on this day will be supplied to FedEx from the end of the year.
GM also showed confidence in autonomous driving technology. Cruise, a subsidiary of GM’s self-driving car, was approved by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) last year. It is a permit to travel freely anywhere in California at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour (about 48 km/h).
In a keynote speech on the day, Cruise said, “In the situation of Corona 19, through cooperation with Food Bank, more than 140,000 foods were delivered to necessary institutions in San Francisco.” I confirmed giving it.”
Cadillac’s self-driving concept car. Photo = GM
Urban aviation mobility is also a challenge… Part of the Cadillac Halo portfolio
The Cadillac concept car that applied electric vehicles and autonomous driving functions and the urban aeronautical mobility concept were also unveiled. The concept car reminiscent of a square box has a living room-like interior with a sofa. “It’s a social space where friends and family can spend time traveling to their destination,” said Michael Simco, vice president of global design at GM.
The urban air mobility concept has the form of a one-seater electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) drone. The idea is to fly urban air by operating four rotors through a 90kWh electric motor. “This is GM’s first attempt at urban mobility,” said Simco. “They are all part of the Cadillac’s Halo portfolio. Mobility that will lead the future in five years.”
GM technology research manager Mei Kai introduces the Ultium platform. Photo = GM
It is unclear whether GM will actually develop the future mobility concept that was introduced on this day. Consumers are expected to be able to see electric vehicles built on the exclusive platform Ultium such as GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyric first.
GM has developed a next-generation Ultium platform for electric vehicles. Depending on the type of battery installation, crossover utility vehicles (CUV), sports utility vehicles (SUV), pickup trucks, etc. can be made in a variety of ways beyond the limits of vehicle class and vehicle type. When fully charged, it can drive up to 450 miles (about 724 km), and in the case of a high-performance model, it is explained that it implements 3 seconds of zero back (time from standstill to 100 km/h).
It also secured high-performance batteries through cooperation with LG Chem last year. Mei Kai, GM technology research manager, said, “Through Ultium Cells, a joint venture with LG Energy Solutions (spinned by LG Chem’s Battery Business Division), we were able to reduce the battery size and increase the capacity. The energy efficiency is 60% higher and the cost is 40% lower than before. The weight is also reduced by 25%.”
GMC’s electric vehicle Hummer EV. Photo = GM
Ultium Platform’s Wireless Battery Management System (BMS) manages the battery in its best condition. The idea is to monitor the battery status in real time, improve efficiency and extend the lifespan. The Ultium Drive, which combines the Ultium platform with an electric motor, is also evaluated to reduce the weight of the dynamometer by half and improve performance by 25% compared to the previous generation of electric vehicles.
GM is set to release GMC’s first electric car Hummer EV, built on the Ultium platform, at the end of the year. While implementing an authentic offloader design, it features cutting-edge digital elements. It exhibits power performance of up to 1000 horsepower, and is equipped with a four-wheel drive system called e4WD, which enables driving on rough roads. When fully charged, the maximum mileage is 563 km.
The Cadillac Lyric interior redefines American luxury. Photo = GM
Cadillac’s electric SUV concept car Lyric was also unveiled for the first time on this day. Lyric unleashes Cadillac’s unique American luxury with state-of-the-art design. When fully charged, it can run 482 km, and Super Cruise 3, an advanced driving assistance function, is applied. The vehicle itself maintains a distance from the vehicle in front, runs within the lane, and changes lanes and parks itself. A large 33-inch display was located indoors. “Cadillac Lyric will redefine American luxury over the next decade,” said Steve Carlyle, senior vice president of GM North America.
The Cadillac Electric Vehicle Celestic Showcar, which had been wrapped in a veil, was also unveiled on this day. Celestic is an electric car that will become the Cadillac flagship sedan. It has a panoramic sunroof in the form of a four-door coupe. GM did not disclose the details of the Celestic Showcar, but hinted that the driver could control the transparency of the sunroof.
After Michael Simco, vice president of global design at GM, GM EVs scheduled for release were lined up. Photo = GM
A new version of the Chevrolet Volt EV will also be released. GM announced that the hatchback version of the Chevrolet Volt EV and the Chevrolet Volt EUV will be released next month. The Chevrolet Volt EV hatchback and the larger Chevrolet Volt EUV are not covered by the Ultium platform. However, GM explained that the two cars will support Cadillac’s advanced driving assistance feature, the Super Cruise 3, which will enable the most advanced driving experience.
On this day, Vice President Simco also unveiled the silhouettes of GM’s new electric vehicles that are about to be released. Cadillac Lyric, GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Celestic were located right behind Simcoe. In the back row, Chevrolet pickup trucks and vehicles that have not yet been released are placed. “(2 out of 3 cars excluding Chevrolet pickup trucks) are Buick brand electric SUVs,” said Simko.
GM will launch 30 electric vehicles by 2025. It plans to sell 1 million electric cars annually in the US and China by introducing electric cars under $30,000 to electric cars over $100,000 to meet all the needs of consumers. Chairman Barra said, “We plan to invest more than 27 billion dollars (about 30 trillion won) by 2025 for this,” and said, “We will become the most enjoyable brand for electric vehicles in the future.”
Sesung Oh, reporter of Hankyung.com [email protected]
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