A Hotbed of EV Development from General Motors

GM is looking for the right way to develop its EV lineup that is planned to be at a total of twenty new EV models by 2023. The Buick brand is one that certainly has come up as a place to grow and develop the models. The new Chevrolet Bolt EV is already an exciting and successful model. It has begun to give other brands fits when it comes to their own EV development. The stronghold that Buick has in China makes it the brand that can lead the way for GM.

The Chinese Connection

It’s no secret over the past few years that Buick is one of the most popular brands in China. It has become the brand most admired from GM. Knowing this, China has passed legislation that will require all brands to have at least ten percent of their sales to be made up of zero emissions models. This will actually solve this problem and the development in two ways. First, the Buick brand will be able to offer the EV models desired to continue to be successful in China, and this development will allow Buick branded models to be sold in the US as well.
The requirement to have ten percent of the sales to come from zero emissions models is just around the corner as it will be required in 2019. This regulation increases to 12 percent in 2020 and is expected to only increase from there as the most populated country in the world is working to create a better environment for its people and make it easier for the drive while making the necessary changes that will improve the air quality offered for the population.

What Should We Expect from new EV?

In the US, the first part of what we might see from Buick in the form if EV or alternative fuel models could be a Buick-branded version of the Chevrolet Bolt EV. This is one version that we expect to arrive in the next 18 months or less with another that will be offered as well. The development of this technology will make it possible for more of us to drive EV models, but won’t likely have the foothold in the US that it will have in China unless legislation is passed in the US to require a specific percent of a sale coming from zero emissions models.
One of the hurdles that Buick will face when it comes to the development of these alternative fuel modes is the luxury status in China. The items that many enjoy including leather upholstery, premium materials, and additional technology add weight to the brand and make it harder to balance the weight addition of the battery packs that are needed in hybrid and EV models. This is a challenge for GM, but having China as a proving ground will make it possible for this brand to lead the way for the EV movement of GM. Once this is figured out, could we see other GM models such as the Chevrolet Malibu in EV form?