GM announces eVTOL, delivery vehicle concepts

During a virtual CES 2021 keynote presentation on Jan. 12, General Motors’ (Detroit, Mich., U.S.) Chairman and CEO Mary Barra presented the automaker’s vision for full electrification of its vehicles over the next few years. Alongside updates about GM’s Ultium lithium ion batteries and upcoming electric vehicles (EVs) including the Bolt EUV, GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq and Cadillac Celistiq, GM also announced two new programs which hold potential for composites usage: an electrical vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) concept aircraft, and a new business unit dedicated to electric delivery vehicles and warehouse movers.

GM’s first eVTOL concept is a single-seater personal aircraft designed as a luxury Cadillac vehicle. It is powered by four rotors and a 90 kilowatt-hour EV motor, and reported to travel up to 90 miles per hour. 

BrightDrop, GM’s electric delivery vehicle business, which the company also announced in a Jan. 12 press release, is developing products, software and services solutions for delivery and logistics companies. GM estimates that by 2025, the combined market opportunity for parcel, food delivery and reverse logistics in the U.S. will be over $850 billion. To help meet this demand while decreasing carbon emissions, GM/BrightDrop plans to release two products.

The first, called EP1, is a propulsion-assisted, electric pallet designed to move goods over short distances, such as within a warehouse or from a delivery vehicle to a customer’s door. GM says this product will be on the market early in 2021. The second BrightDrop product, the EP600, will be an all-electric delivery vehicle which uses GM’s Ultium battery platform and software systems. The first EP600s are expected to be delivered later this year to GM’s first customer FedEx.

To watch GM’s full CES 2021 presentation, visit www.gmexhibitzero.com/live-talks.html.