GM’s EV sales skyrocket, and you’ll soon be driving a mushroom car

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As the new year begins, General Motors is very pleased with last year’s EV sales record, and rightly so. Along with Ford and other EV players, GM has stopped all the doom and gloom headlines that dominated the 2024 news cycle. The only question now is whether GM will reintroduce the popular Bolt EV, and if so, whether or not. Does it feature parts made from mushrooms?

GM reports 2024 was a very good year for U.S. EV sales

Looking ahead to 2024, GM is proud to be the second-largest electric vehicle seller in the United States after Tesla. The sales gap between GM and Tesla is still quite large. However, there are signs of a reversal. GM’s EV sales increased significantly last year compared to 2023, while Tesla’s sales declined slightly. If this trend continues, the distance between first and second place will continue to shrink.

GM reported on January 3 that “electric vehicle sales increased 50% for the year and 125% for the quarter, nearly doubling our market share over the year.”

“EV sales accelerated throughout the year, with sales of 42,000 units in the fourth quarter, an increase of 10,000 units from the third quarter level and nearly double the second quarter total,” GM said. Explained in detail.

As Motor Trend recently pointed out, GM doesn’t (yet) build plug-in hybrid electric vehicles for sale in the U.S., so these sales numbers represent 100% battery-powered vehicles.

Among the highlights was the Equinox EV, with GM describing EV sales as a “key driver,” with sales up 85% in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter. The Equinox EV is also a finalist for the 2024 Cleantechnica Car of the Year. GM also said the LYRIQ model is “currently the best-selling electric midsize luxury SUV,” which is the first-quarter sales forecast for Q1-3 2024 in a press release GM issued Nov. 19. This is the same as what I said about the car in the summary.

Cadillac has led all traditional automakers in EVs as a percentage of sales.

So, what will happen to Bolt EV sales?

Somewhat ironically, or perhaps sadly, the popular but ill-fated Bolt EV was sold to GM as dealers continued to move remaining inventory after production ceased in December 2023. Contributed to sales activities in 2024. GM CEO Mary Barra has reportedly hinted that the Bolt will return in some form. , somehow, but in the meantime, GM is drawing attention to the triumph of Cadillac LYRIQ’s luxury EV sales formula.

GM reported in November that “from January to September 2024, more than 20,000 new LYRIQs were sold in the U.S.,” but more than 25% of sales occurred in just two states: Florida and Texas. It is said that he did.

“EV buyers value three important factors: range, design and price. LYRIQ ticks all three boxes, and its successful sales across the U.S. are proof of that.” The GM expressed enthusiasm.

With that in mind, it’s no wonder GM has tapped Cadillac to lead EV sales over the next year. Late last year, Cadillac launched two new EVs, the ESCALADE IQ and OPTIQ SUV, and plans to launch the new VISTIQ three-row SUV in 2025.

Zero tailpipe emissions, let’s try the supply chain

EV sales are similar in other parts of the U.S. auto industry. Last week, CleanTechnica editor Zachary Shahan published numbers with the headline, “U.S. Gasoline Vehicle Sales Down 1%, Electric Vehicle Sales Up 8%,” and this week he continued to report big numbers for Ford, Nissan, and Kia. reported an increase.

So much for the idea that America’s love affair with EVs is over before it even begins. It is also important to note the factors that are holding down sales of internal combustion engine vehicles. Some of them apply to all types of vehicles, zero-emission or not.

New cars are expensive and expensive to maintain, increasing congestion in cities makes car ownership inconvenient, people are holding onto older cars for longer, and other options such as car sharing and two-wheeled transportation Alternatives are also emerging. Also, here in the United States, most people prefer to buy used cars. Against this backdrop, the continued increase in EV sales is even more surprising.

EV sales and the rise of mushroom cars

On the other hand, from a sustainability perspective, a long-term decline in global personal car ownership may not be such a bad thing. While eliminating tailpipe emissions is a good thing, electric cars are still cars, and car parts have a long tail of air pollution and resource consumption.

Some automakers are focusing more attention on supply chain sustainability as part of their EV sales push. Sustainability appeals don’t get across much when people are pinching pennies and looking for affordable wheelsets, but GM’s focus on the Cadillac brand means the company still has a large presence in the luxury EV market. This indicates that the company anticipates the possibility of

This helps explain why GM Ventures began a partnership with mushroom-based materials startup MycoWorks in 2022. “Investment from GM Ventures has secured joint research and development in an industrial partnership aimed at developing Fine Mycelium™, an ideal replacement for animal skin interiors found in GM vehicles,” MycoWorks explained. He explained that mycelium is the part of mushrooms that grows underground.

In its 2024 update, General Motors described its first proof of concept, a mycelium-based card holder for Cadillac. “The first demonstration includes materials showcased in an iridescent finish with a soft-hued color palette that complements the brand’s bold, sophisticated design aesthetic,” GM enthuses. Ta.

It’s a small step, but last summer GM hinted that mycelium would play a role in its future EV sales plans, as evidenced by the recently unveiled SOLLEI Cadillac convertible concept car.

“MycoWorks’ Fine Mycelium™, used in the console’s charging mat and door map pocket, usher in a new era of premium materials grown from mycelium (a renewable mushroom root structure); , reflects Cadillac’s mission to develop renewable automotive resources,” GM explained.

What will happen to the rest of us?

This doesn’t do much for the average EV buyer looking for a bargain, so let’s hope the Volt returns sooner rather than later.

With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at one yet-to-be-tapped factor that could help accelerate the pace of EV sales. While most EV drivers prefer to charge at home, that option is not available to millions of potential EV drivers who live in rental homes.

Solutions are starting to emerge in the form of EV charging-as-a-service business models, along with new modular charging stations that eliminate trench-digging costs. Keep an eye out for developments like this to inspire future waves of EV adoption.

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Image (cropped): GM is one of the automakers celebrating a banner year for EV sales, readying Cadillac SOLLEI, a luxury concept EV featuring parts made from mushroom fibers (Courtesy of GM) .