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GM like Quebec's strategy in the EV sector

[ScienceFirst]

Nov. 30, 2020

General Motors | GM aime la stratgie du Qubec dans le transport lectrique

 

 

General Motors (GM) will not assemble electric vehicles in Canada when its Oshawa plant restarts production, but never say never. Because the American manufacturer is betting its future on electrification, and sees several similarities between its approach and that of Quebec in this sector.

 

Just days after the announcement of the reopening of the Oshawa, Ont., plant, GM CEO Mary Barra has updated on this shift: 30 new electric vehicles will be commercialized by 2025 and the Cadillac brand will become fully electrified by 2030.

 

"We're focusing on electric," said David A. Paterson, Vice President of General Motors of Canada, on this issue. The industry needs to change its habits to adapt to what is coming. We have booked three plants for new vehicles in the United States, although we have not announced anything on this side for Oshawa," he says.

 

GM's investment in Canada will result in a long-term presence in the country, and since gasoline vehicles will be phased out between 2035 and 2040, it is safe to assume that the plant in southern Ontario will eventually assemble electric vehicles one day, if one reads between the lines.

 

Quebec, a Canadian leader

 

A GM executive would have been asked two years ago what he thinks about the electrification of transportation, and we would certainly have had a little smile on his face and a lot of cynicism. As times change, Mr. Paterson has been very affable on the subject, particularly with regard to Quebec's strategy in this niche.

 

"Quebec is very intelligent in its approach. Targeting a niche market, such as batteries and commercial vehicles, is the right thing to do. This will allow the province to develop expertise throughout the chain and eventually become a world leader." - David A. Paterson, Vice President of General Motors of Canada

 

"It's quite the opposite of the Canadian approach: if Canada wants to keep its auto industry, it takes a world-class battery manufacturer and Quebec could become that manufacturer," he adds.

 

Thanks to research done at Hydro-Qubec over the past several years, the province already has some advantage in the development of electric vehicles: the Crown corporation has patents on several elements related to electric propulsion.

 

By encouraging the mining industry to find the right metals to make batteries, and then encouraging recyclers to take an interest in the emerging market for recycling these batteries, the province is taking the right approach, gm's Canadian executive believes.

 

"Right now, Asia is leading in this market. Our batteries come from Korea and Tesla's batteries come from Japan. But the rest of the industry doesn't have a procurement strategy yet, and that still leaves a lot of potential for Quebec," he says.

 

"It's quite the opposite of the Canadian approach: if Canada wants to keep its auto industry, it takes a world-class battery manufacturer and Quebec could become that manufacturer," he adds.

 

Thanks to research done at Hydro-Qubec over the past several years, the province already has some advantage in the development of electric vehicles: the Crown corporation has patents on several elements related to electric propulsion.

 

By encouraging the mining industry to find the right metals to make batteries, and then encouraging recyclers to take an interest in the emerging market for recycling these batteries, the province is taking the right approach, gm's Canadian executive believes.

 

"Right now, Asia is leading in this market. Our batteries come from Korea and Tesla's batteries come from Japan. But the rest of the industry doesn't have a procurement strategy yet, and that still leaves a lot of potential for Quebec," he says.

 

Making electricity more accessible

 

This potential will only be realized if Quebec manages to produce batteries at a reasonable cost. Because the key to success for electric vehicles is there: their price must go down. And motorists need to be able to refuel quickly, whether at home or elsewhere.

General Motors pulled the rug from under Tesla's feet with the Chevrolet Bolt, a self-driving car sold at a relatively affordable price that was marketed before the Model 3. But it is Tesla that has the lead in the development of its next generation batteries and promises a lifespan of 1.6 million kilometers soon.

 

Meanwhile, his rivals are trampling. Most are still trying to figure out how to sell charging stations for the home to their customers who otherwise have to connect to a home power outlet or find a public network near the home or office.

 

"Recharging is another challenge for the industry. She's going to pick it up in due course," Paterson said. Some Chevrolet dealerships in Canada already make it easier to purchase a terminal, even if it's nowhere near Tesla's offering, which has a kiosk, a wall battery and even solar panels in the catalog...

 

"Stay tuned," concludes the vice-president of General Motors of Canada.

General Motors | GM aime la stratgie du Qubec dans le transport lectrique

 

 

General Motors (GM) will not assemble electric vehicles in Canada when its Oshawa plant restarts production, but never say never. Because the American manufacturer is betting its future on electrification, and sees several similarities between its approach and that of Quebec in this sector.

 

Just days after the announcement of the reopening of the Oshawa, Ont., plant, GM CEO Mary Barra has updated on this shift: 30 new electric vehicles will be commercialized by 2025 and the Cadillac brand will become fully electrified by 2030.

 

"We're focusing on electric," said David A. Paterson, Vice President of General Motors of Canada, on this issue. The industry needs to change its habits to adapt to what is coming. We have booked three plants for new vehicles in the United States, although we have not announced anything on this side for Oshawa," he says.

 

GM's investment in Canada will result in a long-term presence in the country, and since gasoline vehicles will be phased out between 2035 and 2040, it is safe to assume that the plant in southern Ontario will eventually assemble electric vehicles one day, if one reads between the lines.

 

Quebec, a Canadian leader

 

A GM executive would have been asked two years ago what he thinks about the electrification of transportation, and we would certainly have had a little smile on his face and a lot of cynicism. As times change, Mr. Paterson has been very affable on the subject, particularly with regard to Quebec's strategy in this niche.

 

"Quebec is very intelligent in its approach. Targeting a niche market, such as batteries and commercial vehicles, is the right thing to do. This will allow the province to develop expertise throughout the chain and eventually become a world leader." - David A. Paterson, Vice President of General Motors of Canada

 

"It's quite the opposite of the Canadian approach: if Canada wants to keep its auto industry, it takes a world-class battery manufacturer and Quebec could become that manufacturer," he adds.

 

Thanks to research done at Hydro-Qubec over the past several years, the province already has some advantage in the development of electric vehicles: the Crown corporation has patents on several elements related to electric propulsion.

 

By encouraging the mining industry to find the right metals to make batteries, and then encouraging recyclers to take an interest in the emerging market for recycling these batteries, the province is taking the right approach, gm's Canadian executive believes.

 

"Right now, Asia is leading in this market. Our batteries come from Korea and Tesla's batteries come from Japan. But the rest of the industry doesn't have a procurement strategy yet, and that still leaves a lot of potential for Quebec," he says.

 

"It's quite the opposite of the Canadian approach: if Canada wants to keep its auto industry, it takes a world-class battery manufacturer and Quebec could become that manufacturer," he adds.

 

Thanks to research done at Hydro-Qubec over the past several years, the province already has some advantage in the development of electric vehicles: the Crown corporation has patents on several elements related to electric propulsion.

 

By encouraging the mining industry to find the right metals to make batteries, and then encouraging recyclers to take an interest in the emerging market for recycling these batteries, the province is taking the right approach, gm's Canadian executive believes.

 

"Right now, Asia is leading in this market. Our batteries come from Korea and Tesla's batteries come from Japan. But the rest of the industry doesn't have a procurement strategy yet, and that still leaves a lot of potential for Quebec," he says.

 

Making electricity more accessible

 

This potential will only be realized if Quebec manages to produce batteries at a reasonable cost. Because the key to success for electric vehicles is there: their price must go down. And motorists need to be able to refuel quickly, whether at home or elsewhere.

General Motors pulled the rug from under Tesla's feet with the Chevrolet Bolt, a self-driving car sold at a relatively affordable price that was marketed before the Model 3. But it is Tesla that has the lead in the development of its next generation batteries and promises a lifespan of 1.6 million kilometers soon.

 

Meanwhile, his rivals are trampling. Most are still trying to figure out how to sell charging stations for the home to their customers who otherwise have to connect to a home power outlet or find a public network near the home or office.

 

"Recharging is another challenge for the industry. She's going to pick it up in due course," Paterson said. Some Chevrolet dealerships in Canada already make it easier to purchase a terminal, even if it's nowhere near Tesla's offering, which has a kiosk, a wall battery and even solar panels in the catalog...

 

"Stay tuned," concludes the vice-president of General Motors of Canada.