As part of its strategy to offer EV technology beyond its own portfolio and automotive applications more broadly, one component at a time, General Motors has announced its strategy, which will enable it to expand its reach to a larger, more diverse group of commercial customers.
Electrification components are part of GM’s effort to extend the performance and benefits of zero-emissions technology to new industries and serve as a natural extension of GM’s growth strategy.
This initiative will help organisations meet the growing demand for zero-emissions technology while achieving their own sustainability targets.
The company estimates that the total addressable market for electrification components could be close to $ 20 billion by 2030, as a growing number of industries introduce their own emissions reduction goals.
According to the company, the initial EV component sets that it will begin introducing include Chevy Performance and Aftermarket, GM Powered Solutions, Ground Support Equipment and Marine Propulsion.
Chevy Performance, Aftermarket
GM says that the upcoming Electric Connect and Cruise eCrate Package represents an exciting opportunity for the company to extend EV technology to the aftermarket, enabling customers to work with qualified installers through its electric Specialty Vehicle Modifier (eSVM) programme who have been appropriately trained to replace a vehicle’s traditional internal combustion engine with a fully electric propulsion system.
GM’s demonstrated proof-of-concept electric conversion vehicles include the E-10 pickup, K-5 Blazer-E, eCOPO Camaro, and Project X built-in collaboration with Cagnazzi Racing’s eCrate Solutions Group. Now, an electrified 1972 El Camino SS, developed with Lingenfelter Performance Engineering in Brighton, Michigan, represents the first independent installation of the concept eCrate package and ushers in the next generation of EV components from Chevrolet Performance as the program prepares to launch in 2022.
GM Powered Solutions
GM Powered Solutions will begin introducing tailored electric component sets and will leverage the resources of the company’s Powered Solutions team to actively identify opportunities that could benefit from electrification and will work to integrate the latest EV technology into custom applications strategically. This effort will extend the company’s commitment to an all-electric future through its current GM Marine, On-Highway, Off-Highway and Industrial segments and help enable additional enterprises to reach their own emissions targets utilising GM EV components and systems.
Ground Support Equipment
In a strategic collaboration with Textron Ground Support Equipment Inc., the vehicle maker will provide EV components to electrify Textron GSE’s TUG line of baggage tractors, cargo tractors and belt loaders. The company will provide technology to Powertrain Control Solutions, which will integrate the components into lithium-ion electric powertrains for TUG equipment, assisting in the electrification of ground support equipment for use in airports globally.
Marine Propulsion
In addition to supporting existing marine customers, the company’s strategic investment in Seattle-based electric watercraft company Pure Watercraft represents an opportunity to bring EV technology to the marine industry and help preserve the enjoyment of the outdoors for future generations. The two companies will develop and commercialise battery-electric watercraft to accelerate the transition to electric mobility.
Additional extensions include GM’s Hydrotec fuel cell commitments and co-development agreements, Ultium Platform applications and co-development agreements, Ultium Charge 360, BrightDrop and Ultifi software platform.
Leveraging over 100 years of engineering and manufacturing expertise, GM intends to apply the learnings from one component set to the development of others, resulting in a larger portfolio of product offerings across a far-reaching set of applications.
According to Travis Hester, Vice President, Electric Vehicle Growth Operations, GM, the company has an established strategy, a network of integrators and co-development agreements to apply an extensive array of components and solutions to a broad range of customers and use cases. As companies across many industries look to reduce their environmental impact, the automaker is uniquely positioned to serve as a leader not only through exciting new EVs across its brands but through additional technology applications. “We look forward to bringing customers – existing and new – along with us on our zero-emissions journey,” he says.
In the future, the company will look to implement the latest in EV technology, regardless of battery generation or chemistry, to electrify a wide range of applications across industries.
“Our customers will benefit from GM’s vast network of resources, support and experience as an innovator in the electrification space. As we advance our Ultium Platform and other zero-emissions technologies, we anticipate smaller, more affordable, and more flexible components and offerings over time,” he adds.