When General Motors unveiled its Ultium battery cells in March of 2020, the presentation left little doubt that the U.S. auto giant was determined to roll out a compelling lineup of electric vehicles in record time. Developed in partnership with LG Energy Solution, the revolutionary cells were the fundamental building blocks of two Ultium-based skateboard platforms that could support a wide variety of EV models. Unibody passenger cars and crossover SUVs would ride on GM’s new BEV3 architecture and a similar BT1 platform would support larger body-on-frame SUVs and full-size pickup trucks. GM also developed three distinct Ultium Drive traction motors that could be mounted individually or in combination to deliver front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, or all-wheel-drive to either Ultium platform. 2024 will be remembered as the year that GM’s bold investments in Ultium technology began to pay off, with a wide assortment of competitive, fully electric models making their way to showroom floors.
GM saw a dramatic surge in EV sales during the second quarter of 2024 as its Chevrolet division ramped up the delivery of three new Ultium models. Chevy has suspended production of its popular Bolt models, which are being upgraded with more advanced battery technology, but the rollout of the Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Silverado EV will more than make up for the hiatus. The affordable Bolts have made an important contribution to early EV adoption within the United States, and the Equinox will stand in temporarily as GM’s least expensive EV. The gorgeous crossover will also be GM’s most efficient, with the front-wheel-drive model rated to deliver 319 miles of range and a respectable combined MPGe of 108. The slightly larger Blazer EV is enjoying brisk sales after being named Motor Trend’s 2024 SUV of the Year, and the Silverado EV is stacking up nicely against Rivian’s pickups and Ford’s F-150 Lightning. The upgraded Chevy Bolt is expected to return in 2025 as GM’s most affordable EV.
GMC now offers jumbo EV models that diversify GM’s electric lineup even further. The gigantic Hummer EV is available as a pickup or an SUV, and its extraordinary specifications showcase the upper limits of the BT1 platform. A 9,063-pound Hummer equipped with 3 Ultium motors can accelerate from zero to sixty in 3.3 seconds, and a fully loaded platform of 24 Ultium modules is said to provide 381 miles of range. GMC has also introduced a more conventional full-size pickup, the 2024 Sierra EV, with the inaugural Denali Edition One boasting 440 miles of range.
GM has been especially aggressive about electrifying its luxury vehicles, and Cadillac will soon have a broad selection of high-end EVs tempting buyers in this highly competitive market segment. The 2023 Lyriq was the first EV built on GM’s BEV3 platform, and skyrocketing sales in the first quarter of 2024 prompted Cadillac to call it the “fastest growing EV” in the United States. The Lyriq will soon be joined by the ultra-luxury 2024 Celestiq sedan, the 2025 Optiq crossover, the 2025 Escalade IQ SUV, and the 2026 Vistiq, a mid-size three-row SUV.
The rollout of GM’s outstanding Ultium-based EVs has not come easily, but the automaker has maneuvered past production obstacles to deliver the diverse lineup that the flexible technology makes possible. The company’s perseverance is a powerful symbol of its commitment to environmental progress, and its electric future looks bright.