GM's Electrifying EV Plans

 30 New Electric Vehicles by 2025

                        Source: GM Electric Hummer Pickup

                         Source:  GM Silverado Assembly Line

                            Source:  New Silverado Off-Roader

                                            Source:  GM

                                    Source:  GM

3 New Electric Pickup Trucks

GM's truck lineup is highly profitable and helped to drive a 40% overall vehicle sales increase for GM in Q2 2021.  GM plans to offer at least three new electric pickup trucks, including an electric Silverado pickup, in the next year or so.  First, the GMC Hummer electric pickup will be launched by the end of 2021.  Next, the Silverado EV along with another electric pickup by GMC will be released by 2023.  GM also just announced that it is releasing a new, off-road 2022 Silverado pickup in 2022. That vehicle is loaded with new technologies including sensors, radar and cameras for Super Cruise hands-free highway driving.  The system steers, accelerates and brakes the pickup automatically in its own lane.  The off-road 2022 Silverado is called ZR2 and does not appear to have an electric, zero emissions option for the initial release.

GM's Deep Commitment to Electrification

GM is committed to offering 30 new electric vehicles by 2025.  The EVs range from full sized trucks to cars, SUVs and crossover vehicles.  GM is investing $27 billion into the development of electric and autonomous vehicle, including the 30 new EVs by 2025.  The company has established a timeframe for electrification:

• By 2035 it intends to offer only electric vehicles and will stop all production on diesel and gas powered engines
• It will power all US facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2030
• It will power all global facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2035
• GM intends to be totally carbon neutral by 2040

Like other global automakers, GM is making a major effort to transition to zero emissions electric vehicles.  Currently, electric vehicles account for just 5% of all global automotive sales but the percentage of sales is growing with acceleration. 

Latest News on Zero Emissions Vehicles

 The Zero Emissions Travel Revolution

                                        Source:  Lilium

Lilium Acing Tests Flights and Going Public 

Powered by 36 electric engines, Germany based Lilium's 5th generation demonstrator eVTOL is a sterling example of the zero emissions travel revolution that is rapidly emerging.  Lilium continues to go through test flights which demonstrate the aircraft's ability to very quietly vertically take off, fly, hover and vertically land like a helicopter.  The 36 electric engines are stacked across the wings.  The e-engines are powered by 72 battery systems inside the aircraft.  Lilium has a top cruising speed of 175 mph at an altitude of 10,000 feet with a range of more than 155 miles on a charge.  Its first market for commercial operations is Florida with 14 cities as hubs for air taxi service within the next 3 to 4 years.

Room for 7 & Getting Production Ready

The current, 5th generation demonstrator Lilium has 7 seats.  The sound created when it is flying at 330 feet is the equivalent to a normal human conversation.  The quietness of the vehicle is critical for clearance by authorities for use in city locations as an air taxi service.  To raise money to start production of the vehicle, Lilium is going public on the Nasdaq.  In 2024, it intends to build 90 of its 7 seat aircraft.  Some will be deployed for use in Lilium's regional hubs and other will be sold to airlines, including Lufthansa and Brazil's Azul.  Azul has ordered 220 of the eVTOLs for delivery in 2025.

Florida Hub

Meanwhile, Lilium is negotiating with government authorities in Central Florida to create its first eVTOL network.  The network of working air taxis will connect a Vertiport in the Orlando area with 14 other locations around the state, including Palm Beach and Miami.  Lilium isn't the only highly active player in the air taxi arena.  California based Joby Aviation is competing directly with Lilium for primacy in this rapidly emerging new mode of zero emissions travel.  Joby is the first eVTOL company to partner with NASA for the testing of its flying taxis.  The purpose is to accelerate deployment of eVTOLs and to assure the public that eVTOL flying taxis are safe.  To take a look at Edward Kane's recent book "The Future of Flying", go to https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B093J89VF5&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_BV8MSFM34JQX483952C9  I co-authored the book with Ed.