GM Invests in an EV Future: $449 Million to go Towards Electric Vehicles

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Are electric vehicles the future of personal transportation?

GM seems to think so with its latest round of investments into the EV market. While the company has seen only tepid sales for its Chevy Volt, GM will be hunkering down and making some major investments in electric vehicles over the coming years. It seems one of the world’s largest automakers does not want to be left behind when it comes to EVs.

At the Automotive Press Association the other day, GM announced an investment of $449 million into advanced technology. $384 million will be going to GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck facility, the plant which makes the Chevy Volt, while the remaining $65 million will go to the Brownstone Battery Assembly facility, where all the company’s lithium-ion batteries are made.

The investments come just ahead of the release of the next generation Chevy Volt, which has an anticipated release date of 2015 or 2016. Although the company is remaining quiet about the forthcoming Volt, some speculate it could feature an all-electric range of 50 miles and a much smaller range-extending engine.

Don’t forget GM is also planning to release the first affordable 200 mile range all-electric vehicle. One of the sticking points is creating an affordable battery with that range, but the company is confident it can be accomplished in the near future. Such a vehicle would be a direct competitor with Tesla’s upcoming Model E, which will be geared more towards the average American.

GM has invested nearly $1 billion in EV technology, suggesting the company takes its electric vehicles seriously. It has just released the Cadillac ELR, to compete on the luxury EV stage and is now looking for new opportunities in the growing EV market. It will be interesting to see how GMs EV investments will pay off down the road.

Joseph Tohill is a freelance writer and online communications specialist for organizations in the sustainability sector. He has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia and spent most of his academic career studying sustainable urban development; namely the interdisciplinary relationship between built form and natural environment.

Tapping into EV Demographics: Matching Consumer Demand with Supply In Retail

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What do Walgreens, Kohls, and Wal-Mart have in common? Aside from being large US retailers, all of these companies have also installed EV charging stations at many of their stores. And these are not the types of businesses that randomly blow money on the latest gadgets. They make calculated business decisions about the services they provide based on market research, demographic trends, and proven technologies.

It’s safe to say that when it comes to installing EV charging stations, these retail giants have done their homework. 

Other retailers still sitting on the fence about EV charging stations would be well-advised to look at the EV market a little closer to see how they can capture EV drivers in their business models. In particular, they should look at the demographic and social trends that are driving growth in the EV market at the moment.

One surprising element of EV demographics is that environmental concerns are only some amongst several reasons a consumer may buy an electric car. For instance, a recent study of EV drivers in California revealed some interesting information pertaining to Nissan Leaf, Chevy Volt, and Toyota Prius owners.

Environmental concerns came out on top for Nissan Leaf drivers, with 38% citing environmental concerns as their primary reason for purchasing an electric vehicle. Given the Leaf is an all-electric vehicle, this makes sense, as Leaf drivers are completely reliant on the electric grid for power, rather than supplementing electric power with fossil fuels.

Interestingly, Chevy Volt drivers claimed saving money by using cheap electricity was their primary reason for embracing an EV, followed by access to HOV lanes. Environmental concerns came in third place, with 18 percent of Volt drivers citing the environment as a buying motivation. 

Toyota Prius drivers were most concerned with access to HOV lanes, followed with saving money and curbing environmental degradation.

While environmental concerns factored into the purchasing decisions of all groups of EV owners, clearly there were other factors at play. EVs are not just being embraced by eco-minded consumers – they are also embraced by individuals looking to save money and get from point A to point B faster.

In addition, EVs are winning major awards not just amongst other EVs, but amongst all cars in general. For instance, Consumer Reports picked the Tesla Model S as the best overall car of the year for 2014. Top factors in their decision were the Model S’ emissions free driving experience, 225 mile driving range, internet access, and cutting-edge interface. 

Therefore, amongst all automobile drivers, EVs are becoming a more mainstream, highly desirable form of transportation that are only going to become more popular in the coming years. 

Consequently, while it would make sense for retailers to install EV charging stations to green their corporate image, the fact that EVs appeal to a wide range of people means that there can be economic and customer service motivations to installing a charging station as well. The demographic trends suggest EVs are catching on and becoming an increasingly important form of personal transportation. 

Retailers can use this information to their advantage when determining how to give their business a competitive advantage over other retailers in the years to come. And one of the ways they can improve their competitive advantage is to install EV charging stations, an increasingly in-demand consumer amenity.

Joseph Tohill is a freelance writer and online communications specialist for organizations in the sustainability sector. He has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia and spent most of his academic career studying sustainable urban development; namely the interdisciplinary relationship between built form and natural environment.

The New Cadillac ELR: Cadillac’s Answer to the Emerging EV Market

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Cadillac’s entry into the EV market is already popping up in dealerships all over the country and its sophisticated design and unique features are sure to turn some heads. The Cadillac ELR is a plug-in hybrid that offers 250 horsepower, Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology, regenerative breaking, and a stitched leather and carbon fibre interior. Much like the Chevy Volt, the Cadillac ELR uses electricity virtually all the time, but with an internal combustion engine to keep the lithium-ion battery charged up.

Some would say that the Cadillac ELR epitomizes the company’s design philosophy of “Art and Science”. In this Cadillac ELR review, I’ll take a closer look at Cadillac’s new plug-in hybrid and how it manages to bridge the Art and Science divide with both sophistication and ease.

First Impressions

Cadillac's are easy to identify from afar. Their distinctive design typically features bold angles, an imposing front grill, and a certain audacious yet refined character. And true to form, the new Cadillac ELR boasts an appearance that is distinctly “Cadillac”, though with a slightly futuristic twist.

The hood slopes down dramatically from the windshield to give the low-sitting car a provocative and chiseled look. As is typical of a present-day Cadillac, the front includes a large grill and the back features hockey-stick shaped taillights to reaffirm the “take no guff” attitude the vehicle often projects.

But while older iterations of the Cadillac would often demand authority seemingly through sheer force of will, the new ELR instead attempts to seduce users with its smart technology, vibrant TFT display, a luxurious interior, and of course, its 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. It is truly a car made for the 21^st century.

A Look Under the Hood: Cadillac ELR Specs

When it comes to powering the car, the Cadillac ELR takes much inspiration from the Chevy Volt. Like the Volt, the Cadillac features an ELR powertrain that combines both EV and internal-combustion technology. Relying solely on electricity, the user can go 35 miles. Past that and the gas generator kicks to help power the battery, thus giving the car an additional 300 miles of range.

The combined fuel economy of the car’s gas-electric drivetrain offers 33 miles per gallon. When operating it on electric power alone, it boasts an 82 MPG fuel-efficiency rating.

Charging times are similar to that of the Chevy Volt: 4.5 hours on a 240-volt outlet and 7+ hours on a 120 volt home connection. But while some electric cars feature very real range anxiety, the Cadillac ELR’s 345 miles range has the average American covered for most automobile trips.

Smart Technology and the User Experience

Like many EVs, the Cadillac ELR features regenerative breaking capabilities. This basically diverts additional power to the battery when slowing the car down, thus increasing the vehicle total range by a small amount.

In the ELR, the regenerative breaking features are presented in two paddles on either side of the steering wheel. Individuals that are used to shifting paddles in this same location may have to get used to their new function. But all one has to do to engage regenerative breaking is to depress one of the paddles and the car will both slow down and charge the battery at the same time.

Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system features prominently in the ELR, and features new information on charging status and fuel efficiency. The display is both vibrant and easy to use. Plus in order to quell fears over information overload (as is so typical in the digital age) the user has the option to minimize information presented on the display to streamline the user experience.

As is becoming increasingly common, the user can also access the CUE system through a smartphone app, thus giving one access to charging time settings and battery alerts.

Conclusion: Will the Cadillac ELR Compete on the Luxury EV Stage?

While the Cadillac ELR looks stunning and boasts some remarkable specs, the question remains whether or not it will be an effective Luxury EV. With a price tag of $75,000, this car is out of the price range for many Americans. But green minded consumers of luxury vehicles may be inclined to shift easily into Cadillac’s new plug-in hybrid.

Some initial reviews have highlighted the cramped backseats and lacklustre performance of the built-in sound-cancelling technology when the gas engine kicks in. Others suggest these are minor details that won’t sway consumers too much when deciding on the right luxury EV.

What are your thoughts? Would you consider the Cadillac ELR a worthy contender amongst other luxury EVs?

Joseph Tohill is a freelance writer and online communications specialist for organizations in the sustainability sector. He has a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of British Columbia and spent most of his academic career studying sustainable urban development; namely the interdisciplinary relationship between built form and natural environment.