Bye, V8: General Motors announces electric Corvette

• General Motor announces a new Chevrolet Corvette with hybrid drive for 2023.
• A purely electric variant with all-wheel drive will follow. A video gives a foretaste.
• The “Ultium Energy Recovery” system is particularly exciting.

This announcement was long awaited, but some people still don’t want to believe it: The Corvette loses its V8 engine in some model variants, will initially be partially electric and in the near future will only be powered by electric motors. There will still be variants with combustion engines in the future, says GM CEO Mark Reuss via LinkedIn.

This morning I sat down with CNBC’s Phil LeBeau and was able to provide an answer to a question I’ve been asked countless times.

Yes, alongside the awesome new Chevrolet Corvette Z06 and more petrol variants to come, we’ll soon be introducing an electric and an all-electric Corvette with Ultium. The electric version is coming next year. Details and the name will follow soon.

In addition, today we are introducing the Ultium Energy Recovery System, a patented technology that uses the waste heat produced by electric car batteries to heat the interior. It also enables more efficient charging processes and even increases acceleration. It can also extend the range by up to ten percent.

Mark Reuss, President GM

In addition to the Corvette, the Ultium platform will also be used in other Group vehicles, such as the electric Hummer. For more information, see this press release from General Motors (GM).

However, it is a fact that sooner or later the Corvette will no longer be delivered with a combustion engine. The largest automaker in the USA has announced that it will swear off internal combustion engines in automobiles by 2035. General Motors is late in electrifying the Corvette and has to be accused of missing a trend. This also applies to motorcycle manufacturer Kawasaki. The Japanese company recently irritated with an electric, rideable Capricorn.