Automaker General Motors (GM) said it will launch a test fleet of Chevrolet Cruze electric cars in South Korea to explore market needs and customer acceptance of battery electric vehicles (EV) in Korea.
GM, one of the world’s largest automakers, said the demo project is expected to launch by the end of October, with demonstration fleets with other partners being launched in other urban markets later this year.
However, there are not plans for GM to sell an electric Cruze in the U.S.
The Cruze EV demo fleet will be the first full-size sedan electric vehicles to hit the road and will be powered by batteries from LG Chemicals and propulsion systems (motor/inverter) from LG Electronics.
GM’s EV demo fleet in South Korea will consist of Chevrolet Cruzes and GM Daewoo Lacetti Premieres. GM currently markets the vehicle under the local brand in South Korea.
The Cruze EV is equipped with a 31-kWh battery that generates maximum power of 150 kW. On specific test schedules conducted by LG Chemicals, the demonstration vehicles may achieve a range of up to 160 km (100 miles). The vehicles can go from 0 to 100 km/h (60 miles per hour) in 8.2 seconds with a maximum speed of 165 km/h (102.5 miles per hour).
On a standard household 220-volt outlet, the Cruze EV can be fully recharged in 8 to 10 hours. Part of the demonstration fleet’s task is to test a “quick charge” application that could reduce the charge time significantly.
“Although there is much more work to be done, our ability to develop this vehicle in less than a year offers a peek at the very promising plans we have for our customers in Korea and around the world,” said Mike Arcamone, GM Daewoo President and CEO.
While battery packs often occupy trunk space, the Cruze EV’s battery pack is mounted on the underbody, thereby giving the Cruze EV the same trunk space as conventional vehicles with gasoline engines.
Since 2008, GM has been working with LG Chemical, which is the exclusive supplier of battery cells for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range. The Volt enters the U.S. market later this year. The development of the Chevrolet Cruze EV demo fleet will expand this collaboration.
In a recent IPO filing, GM said it plans to launch 19 new vehicles in North American between 2010 and 2012 across its four major brands. It also plans to launch 27 new vehicles between 2013 and 2014. These vehicles include the new Chevrolet Volt, Cruze, Spark and Malibu among other things.
The company also plans to increase sales in China, which is currently its largest market, and Brazil. “We aim to launch 77 new vehicles throughout GMIO (GM International Operations) through 2012,” the company said. It also plans to increase the presence of its Chevrolet brand in China.
Electric cars are about to change the face of auto industry and could rule the auto market in the next 2 years as they reduce carbon emission, pave way for less oil-dependance and save money for consumers amid rising oil prices.
The electric car market is heating up, with multiple ties developing among auto makers, primarily in the electric car segment like Mitsubishi’s alliance with Peugeot, Toyota’s and Daimler’s investment in US electric start-up Tesla and Daimler’s alliance with Renault. Recently, Nissan launched its electric car Leaf.
