TUNE-UP controls program. They spent years working on hybrid drive technology that’s still powering city buses throughout the world, before re-energizing GM’s consumer electric vehicle business.
Another surprising aspect of the newfangled electric cars is their peppy drivability characteristics. “Electric vehicles drive better. They’re more responsive, smoother, and quieter,” Heap points out.
Meanwhile, Matthew Leach (ME, 1994) is vice president of operations for Essex Group Inc.’s Magnet Wire North America. He has worked with Hubbard and Heap to develop some of the technology inside the electric motors powering GM’s electric vehicles.
“A lot of people are realizing that you can get higher performance out of an electric motor,” agrees Leach. “I do foresee that it is going to be the technology of the future, moving forward. There are a lot of benefits.”
“We intend to be the first to market a 200-plus mile electric vehicle at a price that’s affordable,” Hubbard says, referring to the 2017 Bolt EV, an all-electric Chevrolet that will whisper off dealer’s lots for as little as $30,000, after factoring in federal tax credits. That 200-mile range from the Bolt’s fully charged battery is a key to overcoming “range anxiety”— debunking the belief that an all-electric vehicle won’t make it far enough to be practical. Then, GM’s companion Chevy Volt is a vehicle whose electric motor has a range-extending gasoline backup option. It runs entirely on electricity for 53 miles before the gasoline engine kicks in to provide hundreds of additional miles of range for the rest of the owner’s desired long-distance journey. As it turns out, says Hubbard, the Volt’s 53-mile range is more than enough for most commuters. “Research says about 80 percent of trips with a Volt are all-electric,” he points out. Customers appreciate the comfort level of the Volt’s gasoline backup—and they’re also likely to really be pleased by the Bolt’s more than 200-mile capability.
The road toward consumer adoption of electric vehicles has been anything but speedy, though. As Hubbard notes, “It’s really hard to compete with a gallon of gasoline.” Hybrid and electric vehicles make up roughly 4 percent of the market, and it’s taken two decades to get to this point.
stake in the ride-share company Lyft and acquired Cruise Automation, developer of autonomous-vehicle technology. This is opening an entirely new paradigm that relies on electric vehicles. The key to being a mobility company is about getting people where they need to be. GM and a number of competitors are betting that consumers in urban areas in the near future won’t own a car at all, but instead will summon self-driving electric vehicles to get wherever they need to go. “GM’s vision is to develop an on-demand autonomous ride sharing network using electric propulsion,” Hubbard explains. The GM duo has always been on the cutting edge of technology. Hubbard was a member of
Several developments promise to give new The road toward consumer adoption spark to electric of electric vehicles has been anything vehicles, though. but speedy, though. As Hubbard There’s always a quest for better technology, notes, “It’s really hard to compete of course. Heap, for with a gallon of gasoline.” example, specializes in the electronic controls that maximize performance and Rose-Hulman’s solar car team minimize power consumption, that competed in the Sunrayce 93 and he’s already up to nearly cross-country road competition, 200 patents in this area. Engineers while Heap was a member of two continue to improve the other teams, including being performance of batteries, too, and mechanical team leader for the this is a key to both affordability institute’s Sunrayce 97 entry. and greater range. “It’s overwhelming to think that Beyond that, though, GM and we actually took something from other manufacturers are radically scratch to something we were rethinking the whole model of driving on a public road,” Heap vehicle use, imagining a new says. It was a good introduction world where electric vehicles to what we have been doing now could really thrive. “At GM, we’re in the industry.” investing heavily to be not just Yes, Hubbard acknowledges, the a car company but a mobility thrill of being at the forefront of company,” Hubbard explains. electric car work has been “quite The company earlier this year a ride.” obtained a half-billion-dollar
ECHOES
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