General Motors has once again confirmed that an electric pickup is on the way and also dropped a few more details.
Late last April, GM CEO Mary Barra told investors during an earnings call that GM was hard at work making an electric pickup truck to take on the likes of Tesla, Ford, and upstart Rivian. We had absolutely no details on what would be going on under the hood, but we could assume at least a battery, electric motors, and at least 4 wheels.
Now more details are emerging for GM’s electric future. A report from Wards Auto confirms GM President Mark Reuss told analysts at the UBS Global Industrials and Transportation Conference that GM is indeed making an electric truck as part of its new 3rd generation of electric platform.
“We will have a complete electric lineup, including a pickup truck that’s in development,” Reuss said. “We can build everything on this [platform] from just three drive units: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive or e-all-wheel drive.”
Reuss admitted that General Motors has been lagging behind Tesla when it comes to electric vehicle sales, but says that will change as GM starts to roll out their own charging infrastructure. Along with GM’s electric platform, Reuss announced their partnership with a Virginia utility firm to start building charging stations nationwide.
Another factor holding GM back (along with most electric carmakers) is the price of battery technology, which is still far above what it costs to develop an equivalent car using a gasoline engine. However, Reuss noted that emissions regulations are causing the gap between the two to close a lot sooner than anyone would have expected, with battery and gasoline-powered cars soon expected to reach parity.
Tesla recently unveiled its electric pickup design which is expected to arrive with a price tag of under $50,000. GM has yet to put a price tag on their electric offering, nor have the offered a time frame for when to expect it. Rivian is expected to start selling their electric pickup, the R1T, later in 2020.
(via Motor1)