#GMultium

Despite all the innovation in the electric vehicle world, battery packs haven’t deviated from the two primary shapes they’ve always taken. Automakers generally employ either a rectangular or cylindrical battery pack, which limits their ability to position them in some places on the vehicle. General Motors might be looking to buck that trend, as a recently discovered patent application shows the automaker is looking at less traditional shapes for its next-generation battery packs.

General Motors’ fortunes are tied heavily to its new Ultium EV technology. It underpins several existing and upcoming models and is the basis of the automaker’s EV efforts, costing billions of dollars and years of development. A few Ultium-based models have already gone on sale without too many issues, including the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq, but the most recent release hasn’t gone so smoothly. The Chevrolet Blazer EV has recently failed in two high-profile tests by automotive publications, raising questions about its electrical system and software.

Honda is gearing up to release its first mass-market EV in the U.S. with the new Prologue, but the rest of the automaker’s electric roadmap is still in flux. It initially announced plans to work with GM and others to develop smaller, more affordable electric crossovers, but the company recently confirmed that it was stepping away from that initiative due to shifting business priorities.

General Motors is gearing up for the release of several new EVs over the next few years, starting with the Chevrolet Equinox EV this fall. Expected to land with a price tag of $30,000, the SUV could be the start of a new wave of affordable electric models, and we’re getting our first official look at the vehicle thanks to InsideEVs’ digging on China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)  site.

General Motors recently announced plans to enable bi-directional charging in its new EVs starting in 2026, but the automaker snuck a hint into the end of that announcement that is worth unpacking. GM released a video with its announcement to highlight the feature, and at the end, text appears that says the tech will be available with “New Ultium-Based Coupes.”

General Motors has an exciting few years ahead of it, as the automaker plans several new EVs before the end of the decade. Starting in 2026, GM’s electric vehicles will offer a clever bi-directional charging function that allows them to act as backup home generators or emergency EV chargers for other drivers.

Honda and Acura haven’t yet released an EV in the United States, but that’s about to change. The automakers have partnered with General Motors, and Honda’s working with Sony on a separate car project. The fruits of the GM/Honda partnership are coming soon, as the Prologue EV will be Honda’s first in the U.S., and the Acura ZDX is coming not long after. Acura recently released new information on the ZDX, including an overview of its updated tech features.

The Chevrolet Bolt has been an important player in GM’s move to electrify itself, but as one of the automaker’s early EVs, its time has almost run its course. The affordable car is going away at the end of the year to make way for the production of GM’s new electric trucks, including the Chevy Silverado EV and the GMC Sierra EV. 

Buick’s EV ambitions haven’t been a secret. The automaker trademarked the iconic Electra name from its past and even teased its first EV last month, but we’re now learning that it will be a while before the vehicle lands on American soil.