Ultium batteries will normally support up to 200kW fast charging (slower than Tesla's 250kW Supercharger V3, if still quick), but there will be 800-volt packs for trucks that will handle 350kW charging. They'll be low-cobalt designs that are both cheaper than before (under $100 per kWh) and should raise fewer concerns about the labor required. Between the lower costs of the batteries themselves, the reuse of existing facilities and simpler car designs, GM expects its next wave of EVs to be "profitable" -- it'll have an incentive to sell them like any other car.

The self-driving Cruise Origin shuttle is GM's first announced EV to use Ultium batteries, but it won't be the last. You can also expect Cadillac to unveil an Ultium-powered Lyriq luxury SUV in April, while the Hummer EV will unsurprisingly use the tech as well. Not that GM is sitting tight otherwise. It's planning a new version of the Bolt EV for late 2020 and the crossover Bolt EUV for summer 2021.

To some extent, the company doesn't have much choice. Tesla has long claimed range as a central advantage, and it's already getting nearly 400 miles from the Model S and X. If GM wants to be competitive, it'll have to offer comparable abilities. And it's not like other rivals are standing still -- just ask Ford about the popularity of the Mach-E's long range option. In that light, Ultium is less of a technical edge and more of a necessity.