One of the largest car manufacturers and holding companies in the United States, General Motors is making a move in the EV industry, with the intent to bolster its production of more battery powered automobiles.
The investment - as explained in the company's official website - will go to General Motors’ components plant in Lockport, western New York. The money will cover the costs of facility maintenance, renovation and equipments upgrade, which include modifying one of the core parts of electric motors, the stator module. The rounded module looks slightly like Iron Man's heart.
General Motors' Component Plant In Lockport
The western New York based component plant has been operating since 1910 and holds more than 1,500 working professionals. It currently produces general and bespoke coolers, evaporators, radiators, condensers, and other air conditioning and HVAC parts. The plant has trucks and SUV gear in the production line as well. As General Motors aims towards continuous improvement, the enterprise plans to expand the plant’s capacity to include 230 extra staff positions by 2026.
Gerald Johnson (Top photo), General Motors Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Sustainability, said in a recent press release:
“GM’s investment in Lockport component reaffirms our commitment to manufacturing in Western New York and our confidence in this team. They will build a crucial module in our electric motor assembly for our future electric trucks and SUVs.”
He continued:
This is an excellent example of how we are bringing our workforce along on the journey to an all-electric future while we scale our EV production capacity and maintain a flow of parts for our current vehicles.
This investment comes as a fraction of a total of the $7 billion that General Motors is putting into its EV development unit.
General Motors Progress In Electric Industry
More Green energy, less CO2 emissions, an objective that has been agreed on by many enterprisers and car-makers, this is what drives General Motors to focus more on their production of electric vehicles. On this note, Mary Barra, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors, spoke about climate change. She stated:
Climate change is real, and we want to be part of the solution by putting everyone in an electric vehicle.
However, it is a different situation in reality. General Motors has no electric vehicles in their roster, the company previously produced the Bolt and the Volt under Chevrolet. However, operations were halted on both electric vehicles. General Motors proclaimed in October 2017 that they will bring 20 different electric vehicles to showrooms by 2023, they haven’t managed to measure up to their proclamation just yet. Even the hyped Chevy Silverado EV is not here just yet.
Key Elements In The Electric Motor System
The stator module – despite its advancement – is all but the most important piece in the system. The big heart of the matter in fact is the Ultium battery, the driving power behind all electric vehicle models produced by General Motors.
Ultium batteries are promoted by General Motors as a “milestone achievement”. The new battery pack is 40 percent cheaper than the one present in the Chevrolet Bolt, and the latest battery under development is expected to cost even less. It is described as efficient, versatile, cost-effective, and easily maintained. Development of the Ultium battery Is conducted in cooperation with LG Energy Solution in Lordstown, Ohio