[Steverino]

GM on Thursday singled out BrightDrop, which will launch full production of its electric delivery vans next year. The automaker said the business is on track to reach $1 billion in revenue in 2023. The company expects to be capable of producing 50,000 vans annually by 2025.

These delivery vans are based on the Ultium platform, just like GMC Hummer EV, Chevy Silverado EV, Cadillac Lyriq EV, Buick Electra EV, Chevy Blazer EV and Equinox EV, etc.

While Ford got it's F-150 Lightning EV to market faster, it's a one-off like the Mach-E based on stuffing batteries in an ICE platform. It does nothing to lay the groundwork for a broad array of EV's. A 2011 Volt built on a Cruize without the engine so to speak.

By focusing on building the Ultium platform instead of rushing a one-off Silverado to market, GM was able to get the Hummer out there for mach bragging rights, and making the Silverado EV a relative snap. Plus the platform enables a wide range of other vehicles launching in 2023 and 2024.

 

[obermd]

That should give GM time to fix the ultium module manufacturing flaw that's allowing moisture to enter some battery modules. GM has three confirmed reports of this and has put a stop sale/hold on Hummer EVs and BrightDrop vans while they fix this issue.

 

[Steverino]

That should give GM time to fix the ultium module manufacturing flaw that's allowing moisture to enter some battery modules. GM has three confirmed reports of this and has put a stop sale/hold on Hummer EVs and BrightDrop vans while they fix this issue.

Wow, that's news I can't find, obermd. I searched "Ultium moisture", Ultium flaw", "ultium battery flaw moisture", "Ultium battery problem", nada. It sounds pretty specific. Do you have a source you can post?

 

[obermd]

2022 GMC Hummer EV Recalled For Battery Pack Sealing Issue

This is the second time this year that GMC has had to come up with a fix to stop water seeping into Hummer EV battery packs.

insideevs.com

I also found it on CNET.

 

[Steverino]

2022 GMC Hummer EV Recalled For Battery Pack Sealing Issue

This is the second time this year that GMC has had to come up with a fix to stop water seeping into Hummer EV battery packs.

insideevs.com

I also found it on CNET.

Awesome, thanks. I do remember reading about the connector issue, not the battery flange problem.

Oct 25, 2022

The recall affects 735 GMC Hummer EVs, but also 89 BrightDrop EV600 electric vans, as both vehicles are built on General Motors’ Ultium platform and have similar battery packs (manufactured by Magna)

So these packs were apparently not supplied by the Ultium battery plant then.

GM notes that the root cause of the issue has to do with improperly primed or electrocoated battery pack flanges “inhibiting proper adhesion of the urethane sealant.” The recall report published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) adds that “vehicles equipped with high voltage battery pack enclosures produced outside of the supplier’s suspect manufacturing window are not included in this recall.”

The affected electric Hummers were produced between November 9th, 2021 and September 28th of this year, while the affected EV600 vans were manufacture from March 3rd through June 24th of 2022.

 

[obermd]

I don't think GM's in-house Ultium battery manufacturing plant is running yet. For some reason I remember it's slated to start production early in 2023.

 

[Steverino]

I don't think GM's in-house Ultium battery manufacturing plant is running yet. For some reason I remember it's slated to start production early in 2023.

Lordstown, OH started in August.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022 Dan O'Brien
Ultium Lordstown Plant Begins Battery Cell Production

LORDSTOWN, Ohio – Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between General Motors Co. and LG Energy Solution that was forged in 2019, has shipped its first products from its sprawling manufacturing plant here.

They are ramping slowly, currently at about 20% of capacity. The factory is expected to be at full capacity in late 2023.

Ultium’s Lordstown Plant Begins Battery Cell Production

 

[Bill Step]

gm and moisture,theres a shocker.gm excels in moisture assemblies,,think headlights and tail lights.

 

[Steverino]

gm and moisture

Magna Internal is the source of the issue, Bill. They are also building the Fisker Ocean and working with Ford.

Never had water in my Volt or Bolt headlights. I sometimes do get some fogging in the Volt tailights (goes away). Doesn't happen with the Bolt.