With so many manufacturers entering the EV market or adding more electric vehicles to what they already have, it’s no surprise that Buick is also headed in that direction.
They first teased a concept electric vehicle at the Beijing Auto show, and they are teasing us again this year with some images of what is to come.
The Concept Car Teaser
The first indication that Buick dealers might have an EV coming to their lots was a concept car called the Electra they showed at the Auto Shanghai in 2020. While this was clearly a concept vehicle, it did showcase some ideas that Buick might have going forward.
The Electra concept had a space capsule-inspired exterior design with sculpted surfaces. The front of the concept car had three-dimensional LED headlights and butterfly doors. Inside, the Electra concept had a curved screen that stretched across the front and continued with the capsule theme to give it a modern, futuristic feel.
The Battery Technology
General Motors’ existing selection of electric models uses their Ultiium battery technology, and it won’t be a surprise if the new addition to the Buick lineup also has it. This new battery technology uses large pouch battery cells instead of solid rigid batteries to provide more flexibility.
Pouch batteries don’t have to lie flat in planks, instead, they can change configuration depending on the vehicle. This means they can be stacked vertically or horizontally, making it easier to get more capacity in a small space.
General Motors is ramping up its production of Ultium cells batteries with plans for a fourth plant to produce these cells.
What’s In a Name?
There’s a lot of teasing going on, making it fun to speculate about what this new Buick will be all about. We do know that GM filed for a trademark for the phrase Buick Electra back in December of 2021.
Although the trademark is still pending, what would be a more perfect name for an electric car than Electra? The Velite, maybe? In January of 2022, Buick also filed for a trademark for the name Velite. Now, we just have to wait to see what comes first, the Electra or the Velite.
The Latest Teaser
Buick is using social media to provide some hints about their upcoming EV crossover. Their Twitter feed shows a picture of just the upper part of the signature lighting. It has a checkmark design and features a Buick script in the corner. The caption for the image talks about a groovy electric future.
What Can We Expect?
Buick announced they will add three new SUVs to their lineup by 2025, and they will build them all on GM’s Ultrium platform. While it’s not certain, it’s likely the new Electra or Velite is one of them.
There’s still a lot to learn about Buick’s upcoming electric vehicle, but they promise to let us in on the secret sometime during the summer of 2022.
