General Motors has unveiled a new electric motor that will be powering its future electric cars including the Hummer EV. GM is no spring chicken when it comes down to EVs considering it has been selling the Chevrolet Bolt EV since 2016, but the problem is that it has also been stuck with outdated EV technology, but this is where this new motor comes it as it will power the beastly Hummer EV that's launching later this year. It is leveraging its Ultium technology which is a family of tech for its batteries and motors. At the Mackinac Policy Conference, GM president Mark Reuss revealed three new motors which will power the Hummer EV as well. There is a 180 kW front-drive permanent magnet motor, there is a 255 kW rear and front drive permanent magnet motor, and then finally there is a smaller 62 kW all-wheel-drive assist induction motor.
The new Ultium Drive Motor will power the Hummer EV
"Twenty years of electric drive system development and more than 100 years of high-volume vehicle engineering are helping GM pivot quickly from conventional vehicles to EVs. Our vertical integration in this space, encompassing both hardware and software, helps give us control over our own destiny and significant competitive advantage," said Reuss.
These three motors will serve an assortment of needs for models with different power and torque requirements. For instance, the 256 kW motor will be at the heart of the Hummer EV. GM has also said the electronics will have 50 percent less mass and volume, than what is found in most EVs and will have 25 percent more capability.
"GM engineers have also developed the software for Ultium Drive's motor controllers, which is key to serving the propulsion needs of various vehicle types with a minimal set of components. These engineers, based at GM's Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, Global Propulsion Systems in Pontiac, Michigan; and Milford Proving Ground, are part of the nearly 11,000 GM product development team members currently working in software development. This number is projected to grow with software serving as a critical pillar of GM's vision of an all-electric future," added GM in a statement talking about the new Ultium drive motor controller which will also debut with the Hummer EV.
