Despite its ubiquity compared to other high-performance sports cars, the Corvette continues to be one of the most beautiful and coveted models year after year ever since its debut in 1953. With each new generation of Corvette — now eight generations in — Chevrolet has maintained a design ethos that’s come to represent the freedom and adventure that America has to offer, thus earning the vehicle its nickname, “America’s Sports Car.”
General Motors’ president Mark Reuss announced today that as early as next year, Chevy will be rolling out hybrid-electric Corvettes in addition to its usual gas-powered variants. With the company stating over a year ago that they plan to phase out petroleum-powered automobiles entirely by the year 2035, it was only a matter of time before Chevy’s halo vehicle would follow suit. This comes not long after the unveiling of the upcoming 2023 Corvette Z06, which sports the highest-horsepower naturally-aspirated V8 engine ever. While enthusiasts and traditionalists don’t have to worry about giving up their combustion-engined ‘Vettes yet, the idea of a Stingray that can make a cross-country trek without having to spend money on gas is intriguing at the very least.
Reuss has revealed that the EV Corvettes will utilize GM’s ultium batteries, which are stackable cells that fit inside the battery pack and are designed for fast charging and cost-efficiency. The batteries range from 50 to 200kWh, but most of the company’s EVs have come equipped with 400-volt packs that charge at 200kWh and can power acceleration from 0 to 60mph in 3 seconds. Additionally, Reuss also divulged a new energy recovery system for the Ultium Program, which takes the heat generated by the batteries and uses it to warm the interior of the vehicle while also increasing the car’s range by 10% and increasing acceleration.
As of now, the upcoming electric Corvette is just being teased by Reuss’ statement and a brief video by General Motors, but hopefully we will see more soon.
