General Motors has unveiled the motors they plan to use in electric vehicles that will have an estimated 1,000 horsepower powered by batteries made in Lordstown.

At the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference being held in Michigan, General Motors President Mark Reuss revealed three- new motors that will drive GM’s Ultium-based EV’s.

Designed by GM, the 180-kilowatt front-drive motor, 255-kW rear- and front-drive motor and 62-kW all-wheel-drive assist motor are part of Ultium Drive.

"Twenty years of electric drive system development and more than 100 years of high-volume vehicle engineering are helping GM pivot quickly from conventional vehicles to EVs,” Reuss said at the conference sponsored by the Detroit Regional Chamber. "Our vertical integration in this space, encompassing both hardware and software, helps give us control over our own destiny and a significant competitive advantage."

The motors will be powered by Ultium batteries which General Motors intends to manufacture at plants in Lordstown, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, as well as two other as-yet-unnamed locations.

The 180- and 255-kW units are permanent magnet motors designed with the aim of minimizing reliance on heavy rare earth materials while the 62-kW unit is an induction motor.

The motors are designed for a wide spectrum of vehicle types, from performance cars to work trucks.

As many as three electric motors can be used in one EV. Variations of the 2022 GMC HUMMER EV will feature three separate 255-kW motors, yielding a GM-estimated output of 1,000 horsepower.

The software for Ultium Drive’s motor controllers is designed to serve the propulsion needs of various vehicle types with a minimal set of components.

Engineers used computer-assisted and virtual engineering to create vehicle controls. Artificial intelligence and machine learning helped determine the most efficient ways to distribute torque in three-motor systems, like in the GMC HUMMER EV, allowing the off-road capable vehicle to also drive on surface streets.

GM says the software can be reused in several applications, providing the foundation for future EV expansion, adding that the motors are versatile enough to provide the power needs for a complete lineup of vehicles.

GM also designed the software of key power electronics components – like the power inverter module or inverter, which converts DC voltage from the battery to AC voltage to power the motor.

The automaker credits the HUMMER EV’s 0-60 mph acceleration in a GM-estimated approximately three seconds to GM’s electric drive software, motor controls, power electronics, and motor design.

In Ultium-based vehicles, the inverter and other electronics will be integrated directly into Ultium Drive units, reducing cost and manufacturing complexity.

GM says some power electronics will have as much as 50 percent less mass and volume than today's GM equivalents, with as much as 25 percent more capability.