New EVs will cost less and go further: GM

General Motors expects its next generation electric vehicles to be cheaper.

Batteries for those due out in 2021 will cost nearly a third less than those in the current Chevrolet Bolt, GM chief executive officer Mary Barra is reported as saying this week.

Yet the battery range should rise to over 480km.

Barra told the Barclays 2017 Global Automotive Conference in New York that GM is committed to a profitable EV future.

It aims to reduce manufacturing costs and increase sales with EV demand rising internationally.

GM earlier announced it intends introducing 20 new EVs by 2023.

Holden hopes to bring a limited number of left-hand drive Chevrolet Bolts to New Zealand next year.

Bolts can do up to 455km on a single charge.

GM sells less than 50,000 EVs worldwide but expects that will reach nearly a million by 2026.

It’s also moving to capitalise on driverless technology.