General Motors aims for carbon neutrality by 2040

[Shawn Knight]

In brief: General Motors on Thursday announced plans to become carbon neutral across its products and operations by 2040. Moreover, the largest US automaker said it aspires to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new light-duty vehicles five years sooner, by 2035.

To realize the latter goal, GM said it will need to work to build out the necessary charging infrastructure and to promote consumer acceptance. The automaker plans to invest $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle tech over the next five years, money that’ll be used to help develop its Ultium battery technology and update facilities in Michigan and Tennessee to build EVs.

GM set a target date of 2030 for its US facilities to be running on 100 percent renewable energy, and 2035 for global sites.

(GM's modular platform and battery system, Ultium.)

Equally important is ensuring that the electricity used to charge EVs be generated from renewable sources like solar and wind, the company said.

Transitioning to zero emissions for its entire fleet is a lofty objective. According to analyst estimates cited by CNBC, electric vehicles are a niche segment of the global automotive industry that account for less than five percent of total sales.

In the meantime, GM said it will continue to improve fuel efficiency in its internal combustion vehicles through the use of smaller boosted engines, more efficient transmissions and by enhancing aerodynamics.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/88452-general-motors-aims-carbon-neutrality-2040.html

 

[Uncle Al]

Definitely do-able .... the only question is at what cost.

 

[sac39507]

They're going to lose a lot of Corvette and Camaro customers

 

[Theinsanegamer]

Perhaps they should try to make an electric car that people actually want to buy without federal subsidies before making such lofty promises.

 

[QuantumPhysics]

EV stonks

 

[Neatfeatguy]

"The automaker plans to invest $27 billion in electric and autonomous vehicle tech over the next five years..."

Dear Government,
Please give us more bail out money.

Thank you.
GM

 

[3volv3d]

Er ? I thought every email we send has a carbon foot print. So how does making a bunch of cars make them neutral carbon. I call BS.

 

[DZillaXx]

They make practically the worst cars on the market right now, other than a couple highlight vehicles like corvette. I don't have much faith in their ability to make EV vehicles people want to buy over any other option.

 

[pcnthuziast]

With the world supposedly ending in 12 years, how exactly will this work? lol

 

[VaRmeNsI]

EV's are not environmentally friendly and being plant food neutral is meaningless.

 

[gamerk2]

Definitely do-able .... the only question is at what cost.

They don't really have a choice. Most of Europe are going to start banning the sale of gas powered vehicles as soon as 2025, so every automaker is eventually going to forced to either adjust their product chain, or give up on foreign sales entirely.

And of course, once Europe stops using oil, the amount that is refined will drop (to keep prices from plummeting and driving the producers out of business), which would likely result in price jumps making gas powered vehicles even more unaffordable relative to electric ones.

 

[Sedziwoj]

With the world supposedly ending in 12 years, how exactly will this work? lol

When they not exist, they will not emit carbon ; )

 

[Puiu]

Definitely do-able .... the only question is at what cost.

it's 100% doable considering their late target date of 2040.

 

[Mister_K]

EV's are not environmentally friendly and being plant food neutral is meaningless.

It's a step closer however. That's how incremental product evolution occurs. One small step.

 

[Superconductor]

LMAO

 

[wiyosaya]

They're going to lose a lot of Corvette and Camaro customers

I doubt that. As I see the typical Corvette customer, all they care about, besides having the car as a status symbol, is going as fast as possible. If GM is smart, an EV Corvette will slaughter an ICE Corvette in most speed categories. Maybe they will lose Camaro owners, but as I understand it, they intend on phasing out ICE eventually. Unless they want to buy classic cars, Camaro owners will be left with little choice.

EV's are not environmentally friendly and being plant food neutral is meaningless.

I won't argue your point with you since there is a significant amount of publicly available (and respectable) research out there that concludes otherwise.

As I see it, researching the subject before posting leads to respect.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

As I see it, researching the subject before posting leads to respect.

Your point being?

 

[wiyosaya]

Your point being?

IMO, you should really research what you are posting instead of posting BS.

EDIT: You asked.

 

[VaRmeNsI]

IMO, you should really research what you are posting instead of posting BS.

EDIT: You asked.

Oh I see so rather than just say you disagreed you thought you'd play smart alec, well done, have a free internet cookie.

 

[PEnnn]

They're going to lose a lot of Corvette and Camaro customers

And where will they go and what will they buy??

 

[scavengerspc]

Oh I see so rather than just say you disagreed you thought you'd play smart alec, well done, have a free internet cookie.

I think the point is when you post something as easily proven to be false as "EV's are not environmentally friendly" you are kinda leaving yourself open to criticism.

 

[trgz]

I think the point is when you post something as easily proven to be false as "EV's are not environmentally friendly" you are kinda leaving yourself open to criticism.

Reading just these articles (two from electricity producers) rather leads me to consider that even building an EV is not good for the environment as every one agrees that the production and the source of the electricity can be called into question:
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/electric-cars-greener-petrol-cars/
https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/en...c-cars-really-better-for-the-environment.html
https://www.newscientist.com/articl...e-a-greener-option-than-fossil-fuel-vehicles/
https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/electric-cars-and-environment

 

[VaRmeNsI]

I think the point is when you post something as easily proven to be false as "EV's are not environmentally friendly" you are kinda leaving yourself open to criticism.

So cobalt/lithium mining/disposal is environmentally friendly?,

 

[scavengerspc]

So cobalt/lithium mining/disposal is environmentally friendly?,

Compared to a lifetime of millions of cars burning fossil fuels yes, easily. Very easily.

 

[scavengerspc]

Reading just these articles (two from electricity producers) rather leads me to consider that even building an EV is not good for the environment as every one agrees that the production and the source of the electricity can be called into question:
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/electric-cars-greener-petrol-cars/
https://www.ovoenergy.com/guides/en...c-cars-really-better-for-the-environment.html
https://www.newscientist.com/articl...e-a-greener-option-than-fossil-fuel-vehicles/
https://www.edfenergy.com/for-home/energywise/electric-cars-and-environment

To respond I will simply refer you to the title of the very first link you posted.
My thoughts exactly.

EDIT - That second link you put up is an excellent source for information regarding not only the advantages of EV's but what more can be done in the future. One step at a time.