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GM Exec: We're Going All-Electric (Someday)

Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept 1 photo
Photo: Catalin Garmacea
General Motors is arguably the leader in alternative propulsion among the Detroit Three, and that's mostly down to its Bolt EV - the only purpose-built electric vehicle to come from any American manufacturer.

The fact it's also a more than decent car has helped with solidifying GM's credibility among the EV fans, even though the low volumes in which it is built does make the Chevrolet Bolt seem a compliance vehicle rather than something the company truly believes in.

Entertaining that thought might prove to be a mistake over the coming years, when GM plans to expand its EV portfolio significantly. Through the voice of its Executive Vice President, Mark Reuss, the carmaker announced it would add two new battery-powered models within the next 18 months.

GM plans to have "at least" 20 EVs in its range by 2023, matching the claims made by other manufacturers such as Volkswagen or Mercedes-Benz. The official wasn't too keen on providing any specifics, but that number suggests there will be electric alternatives in every segment.

“General Motors believes in an all-electric future,” Reuss said. “Although that future won't happen overnight, GM is committed to driving increased usage and acceptance of electric vehicles through no-compromise solutions that meet our customers' needs.”

Going slightly against the flow of the market, Reuss also talked about the Surus project, a truck platform that uses hydrogen fuel cells to produce the electricity onboard. The name is an acronym for Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure, suggesting the vehicle would have multiple potential applications.

Like other manufacturers, GM is also thinking about the possibility to drop internal combustion engines for good, but it hasn't set a clear date for it. It would probably depend on how the rest of the market reacts, how the EV technology develops, and how soon various governments around the world install a ban on gas-burning cars.

For now, though, the question is what sort of vehicles will the first two upcoming GM EVs be? We know GM is preparing a crossover/SUV based on the Bolt platform, with the second one most likely a sedan to compete directly with the Tesla Model 3. With such a short timeframe by the industry's standards, expect to hear a lot more about these two in the coming months.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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