2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray hybrid sports car
GM
DETROIT – General Motors plans to introduce a hybrid model to its U.S. lineup as sales of the vehicle continue to grow amid rising gas prices and a pullback in all-electric cars.
Mike Anderson, vice president of GM propulsion engineering, reconfirmed the car maker’s hybrid plans, but refused to discuss the timing of the vehicle, which had previously been expected as soon as next year.
“It is fair to say so [hybrids are] part of the plan,” Anderson, a 35-year GM veteran, told CNBC during an interview. “We are not deaf to our customers. We know what they want and we want to give it to them as soon as possible.
GM has largely stayed out of the hybrid market this decade, instead using its resources to go “all-in” on all-electric vehicles. But amid weak EV demand, industry deregulation and the growing popularity of hybrids, Anderson said the company needs to meet customer demand everywhere.
“Our long-term vision is an all-electric future. That’s our goal,” Anderson said. “This is the end state, but it’s going to be a journey that involves a lot of different technologies.”
GM CEO Mary Barra said in January that the automaker is still studying plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, for its U.S. lineup as well as traditional hybrids but remained critical of the technology. He also told Bloomberg later that month that a “handful” of these models would arrive but did not provide a timeline.
In mid-2024, GM announced plans to introduce PHEVs in 2027. At the time, GM was under pressure to meet stricter federal tailpipe emissions standards that had been lowered or eliminated by the Trump administration.
AutoForecast Solutions, an automotive data and consulting firm, expects GM to begin offering PHEVs in late 2027 to early 2028 with an EV range of 70 miles “per portfolio,” according to Casey Selecman, director of powertrain forecasting for the company.
“GM has several PHEVs planned throughout the portfolio from the Equinox to the Silverado but has been very cautious in rolling out for fear of changing customer technology preferences that have burned in the past,” he said.
Anderson declined to discuss potential products or timing for GM’s first new hybrid model.
“You can see, without me saying what our future plans are, where our customers are clamoring for these things and they’re going to do it,” he said. “We want to meet them where they want to be.”
Sales of hybrid models in the U.S. have jumped amid tepid EV demand, rising gas prices and other offerings in the market, which GM has lost.
Cox Automotive reported sales of hybrid vehicles from the second quarter of this year increased 23% from the previous year to represent a record 16.3% of US sales from April to June. That compares with about 5.8% of sales for EVs, Cox said.
EV/Hybrid vehicle type
The automotive industry has more powertrain and “propulsion” options than ever before. Here’s the breakdown:
- Internal combustion engine (ICE): “Traditional” vehicles with gasoline or diesel engines.
- Mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV): ICE vehicles that function like nonhybrid vehicles but may include minimal electrical features such as small batteries, regenerative braking or electric motors.
- Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV): Consider the Toyota Prius, a vehicle that has a hybrid powertrain system combined with an engine.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV): This vehicle has an internal combustion engine combined with a hybrid system, including a larger battery than traditional hybrid vehicles as well as a plug to recharge the vehicle’s battery. It usually allows the driver to travel a few miles using the battery before the engine is needed to power the car or truck.
- Battery electric vehicle (BEV): These all-electric vehicles do not have an internal combustion engine. Instead, they contain an electric motor powered by a large battery. They must be recharged using an electrical outlet and charging port or charging station.
- Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV): Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and equipment operate like BEVs but are powered by electricity generated from hydrogen and oxygen instead of pure batteries, which usually consist of lithium. They are filled with nozzles, similar to traditional gas and diesel vehicles.
- Long range electric vehicles (EREV): This is a new technology that is mostly used as a PHEV, but after the battery runs out of energy to power the vehicle, the engine can be used as a generator to power the electric motor. The vehicle still drives like an EV rather than having the engine directly power the vehicle’s motion.
There are many hybrid variants introduced by automakers, but generally, these vehicles combine a traditional gas-powered engine with an electric motor and battery to provide better fuel economy and, in many cases, better performance.
The fastest-growing segments for hybrids in the U.S. are compact crossovers/SUVs and midsize vehicles, according to Cox.
“Hybrid vehicles continue to be the clearest growth story in the electric market,” said Stephanie Valdez Streaty, Cox’s director of industry insights, during a presentation last week.
Currently there are several types of hybrids available in the US Traditional hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius, feature a lot of electric engine technology, while PHEVs have been defined as all-electric some before using the engine to power the vehicle.
Then there are long-range electric vehicles, or “series hybrids,” which drive like an EV but have an engine that generally operates like a generator to drive an electric motor to propel the vehicle.
Data shows more gas-electric hybrid drivers are less likely to trade for another. GM has stopped production of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in car.
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The combination of two powertrains adds additional complexity and cost, which GM has argued against hybrids, but something many consumers seem willing to pay because hybrid sales continue to rise.
GM currently offers only one hybrid, a model from the Chevrolet Corvette. The Detroit automaker’s last foray into hybrids was the plug-in Chevrolet Volt, which was discontinued in 2019.
GM’s cross-town rival, Ford Motor District and parent Chrysler Starhas leaned on suppliers to get hybrid vehicles to market faster.
Anderson said GM’s strategy “will be a mix” of internal and external technologies based on cost, segment and product.
“We deliberately because, usually for strategic reasons, we have to control our own destiny. We have to control our own time,” he said. “Or, if it’s a commodity, go get it. Go get the best price you can.”