Honda, GM to Codevelop 'Affordable' Electric Vehicles
Two of the largest vehicle manufacturers in the world are teaming up to make EVs much more affordable within five years.
Honda and GM announced today that they will codevelop "a new global architecture" on which to build a range of affordable EVs, all of which will be powered by GM's Ultium batteries. The aim is for millions of these new vehicles to start rolling off production lines in 2027, and compact crossovers look likely to be the focus.
The two companies hope that by working together and sharing technology they can standardize more of the equipment and processes associated with EV production, while at the same time advancing battery tech and production methods.
Honda and GM have been working on battery tech together since 2018, and GM is already signed up to build the two-battery Prologue for Honda in 2024. Extending the partnership to include brand new vehicle designs should therefore be relatively painless.
GM announced its Ultium batteries back in 2020. They use pouch-style cells that can be stacked both horizontally and vertically, allowing lots of flexibility when fitting them within a space. That could prove key for a more affordable EV design. GM claims Ultium batteries offer up to 400 miles of range and include support DC fast charging, but range will depend on configuration and I suspect an affordable EV may end up limiting range to hit a price point.
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