GM wants to make an electric pickup, but can it beat its rivals to the punch?

By Ronan Glon Published May 3, 2019

2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The alliance talks between General Motors and Michigan-based startup Rivian fell apart. Days later, Ford made a not-insignificant $500 million investment in Rivian, and announced plans to build a car using its new partner’s electric technology. GM missed out on the chance to work with the EV maker, but its chief executive announced it’s still planning on entering the burgeoning electric pickup truck segment sooner or later.

“We intend to create an all-electric future that includes a complete range of EVs, including full-size pickups,” affirmed CEO Mary Barra during an investor call.

Barra stopped short of revealing when the model will arrive. Another point that’s up in the air is whether Chevrolet or GMC will inaugurate the technology. GMC has talked about going electric before, and it could have an easier time offsetting the costs added by a battery-powered drivetrain because its vehicles are more expensive than Chevrolet’s. Odds are both brands will ultimately offer an electric pickup; however, they have shared mechanical components for decades.

With Rivian out of the picture, GM will need to either find another partner to split development costs with, or design electric hardware suitable for a pickup truck on its own. We might not have to wait long to see the truck, because the current versions of the Chevrolet Silverado (pictured) and the GMC Sierra were designed with every type of powertrain in mind, according to Green Car Reports. That includes four-, six- and eight-cylinder engines, but also hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric technology. The trucks could even take a hydrogen powertrain if needed.

When it arrives on the market, whether it’s in two years or 10, the Chevrolet- or GMC-badged electric truck will face serious competition. Rivian’s R1T concept gathered a tremendous amount of attention when it made its global debut during the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, and the production model expected in late 2020 will likely be wildly popular in spite of its relatively high price pegged in the vicinity of $70,000. Ford confirmed it’s working on an electric F-150, and it will build something — we don’t know what yet — on Rivian’s skateboard-style platform. Finally, Tesla has talked about making an electric pickup for years, though no one has seen it yet.

Topics

Contributor

Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

Cars

GM is serious about electric Hummer, wants LeBron James to sell it

Hummer H2 and Hummer H3 SUVs

In one of the most unlikely turnarounds in automotive history, General Motors could resurrect the Hummer name -- long associated with gas-guzzling SUVs -- for a new electric vehicle. Following multiple rumors of an electric Hummer, The Wall Street Journal reported that GM has signed NBA star LeBron James to appear in a Super Bowl commercial for the new electric vehicle. The report claims the electric Hummer will go on sale in 2022, but GM hasn't made any public comments on it.

The report, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter, also said the electric Hummer will be sold under the GMC brand, instead of a stand-alone brand as before. GMC currently sells fancier versions of Chevrolet pickup trucks and SUVs. While GMC has made some efforts to distinguish itself from Chevy (including offering a carbon fiber truck bed), it still lacks a strong identity. A "GMC Hummer" could make the brand more distinctive, although it could also confuse customers used to thinking of Hummer as a stand-alone brand.

Cars

Want an electric car that can tow? Then you need a Polestar 2

Polestar 2

The upcoming Polestar 2 electric car will do something its rivals can't -- tow stuff. While most other similarly sized electric cars don't have manufacturer-rated towing capacity, Polestar claims its first all-electric model will be able to tow up to 3,300 pounds, when properly equipped. A Polestar press release announcing the tow rating did not mention U.S.-spec models, but Green Car Reports subsequently confirmed that the same rating will apply to cars sold here.

The tow rating doesn't equate to much more than a couple of dirt bikes (as depicted in Polestar press photos), or a small camping trailer, but that's likely all customers will need. People generally don't buy small cars (gasoline or electric) for their towing capacity, after all.

Cars

The Kia EV3 could be the cheap electric SUV we’ve been waiting for

White Kia EV3

The Kia EV9 was already one of the cheapest ways to get an electric SUV, but now the company is taking things to the next level. After teasing the Kia EV3 last year, the car is now official.

The EV3 is built to be a slightly smaller, cheaper version of the EV9 -- following the path of the Rivian R2, which arrived after the Rivian R1S. It's certainly not as technologically advanced as the EV9, but it still looks unmistakably like a modern Kia, and is clearly a sibling of the larger SUV. On the outside, the vehicle has the same split taillights and very similar Tiger Face front. But it is quite a bit smaller. The vehicle will be available in nine finishes -- however only "Aventurine Green" and "Terracotta" are being announced right now.