Increasing Variety, Lowering Prices... GM's Solution to the Slowing Electric Vehicle Adoption

"Is there really an electric vehicle for me? Our answer is 'Yes.' The flexible Ultium platform will make this possible." (Andy Ouri, General Motors (GM) Technical Leader)

The steady increase in electric vehicle adoption seems to have recently slowed down. Although it has improved compared to the past, many still feel that the charging infrastructure is insufficient. The higher price compared to internal combustion engine vehicles remains a hurdle. Initially, it was expected that car prices would drop as battery prices fell, but that has not happened.

Electric vehicle subsidies, which once exceeded 20 million KRW per vehicle, have steadily decreased, and now most buyers receive less than 10 million KRW when purchasing an electric vehicle. For consumers considering buying an electric vehicle, aside from having more options than before, there are few incentives to choose from. Each automaker inevitably faces deep concerns about how to navigate the challenging electrification transition process.

Brian McMurray, President of GM Technical Center Korea (GMTCK), also understood the market's concerns. On the 19th, at the Korea Future Mobility Expo held in Daegu, he met with key executives and the press to discuss recent domestic and international electric vehicle development trends and future plans. GMTCK serves as GM Korea's research and development (R&D) hub and plays a crucial role alongside GM's U.S. headquarters in the electrification transition. It is the second-largest R&D center among GM's global operations.

GM emphasizes a highly versatile platform. The electric vehicles they produce incorporate the dedicated Ultium platform. Vehicles must be developed and launched to suit various sizes, types, and price ranges, and Ultium allows efficient response to market demand.

Yu Young-woo, Managing Director of GMTCK, who also spoke at the event, said, "Ultium features an innovative design with excellent energy efficiency and can be flexibly applied to vehicles with front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive depending on the configuration. The battery cells can be arranged horizontally or vertically, optimizing space within the battery pack."

The Ultium platform's characteristics also make it easy to apply to various sizes and forms of electric trucks, SUVs, and sedans currently under development, as well as pure electric vehicles launched in the U.S. such as the Silverado and Hummer. GM has introduced vehicles like the Cadillac Lyriq, GMC Hummer EV, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Silverado EV, and BrightDrop ZEVO 600 using this platform.

Technical Leader Ouri explained, "We have developed three different styles of Ultium: a single-layer battery pack for mid-size SUVs, a double-stacked battery pack for full-size trucks, and a multi-length battery pack optimized for low-roof vehicles. All of this is possible because we use a single motor product line and common battery cells across many markets."

Electric vehicles contain battery packs. Battery cells, the basic units, are assembled into modules, and modules are combined into packs. The company anticipates that with flexible use of the Ultium platform and future technological advancements, it will be possible to eliminate the intermediate module stage. Some companies, such as China's BYD, have already adopted a method that removes the module stage.

GM's proprietary software platform, Ultifi, is responsible for vehicle connectivity. McMurray said, "Vehicles are typically owned for about 9 to 10 years, and during that time, owners expect safety and continuous improvements. Ultifi connects the vehicle's hardware with software elements, enabling efficient solutions."

Although specific plans were not disclosed, McMurray mentioned that battery price is also an important factor in lowering new vehicle prices. Managing Director Yu stated, "For electric vehicles to be profitable, battery costs need to fall below $100 per kWh. We believe that reducing battery prices as much as possible is the most essential step for widespread electric vehicle adoption, and we are making every effort to achieve this."

Regarding Apple CarPlay integration services, no definitive decisions have been made. However, McMurray assured that future new electric vehicles will not lack compatibility with Apple smartphones. While domestic automakers and some imported car makers are independently expanding charging infrastructure, GM currently has no plans to expand charging infrastructure separately in Korea.

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