GM Electric Networked Vehicle Concept Zips Around Las Vegas
General Motors is working on a driverless, electric car called the EN-V, short for Electric Networked-Vehicle. The EN-V is a two-seat electric vehicle designed to alleviate concerns surrounding traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability for cities.
EN-V’s platform evolved from the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (P.U.M.A.) prototype that was developed by Segway and debuted in April 2009.
The EN-V is driven by electric motors, one in each of its two driving wheels. Segway dynamic stabilization technology is used giving it the ability to carry two passengers and light cargo in a footprint that’s about a third of a traditional vehicle. It can literally turn in place.
Power for the motors is provided by lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged from a standard, household wall outlet. The EN-V can travel approximately 25 miles (40 km) on a single charge at speeds up to 25 mph (40 km/h). It weighs less than 500 kilograms and is about 1.5 meters in length.
The EN-V can be driven both manually and autonomously. In autonomous mode navigation is handled by a combination of GPS, vehicle-to-vehicle communications and distance-sensing technologies.
The body and canopy of EN-V are constructed from carbon fiber, custom-tinted Lexan and acrylic, materials that are more commonly used in race cars, military airplanes and spacecraft because of their strength and lightweight characteristics.
In March 2010 GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC) unveiled three EN-V models in Shanghai geared for cities in the growing Chinese market.
GM has recently approached the mayor of London about the possibility of running EN-Vs in London’s Olympic Park after the 2012 Olympics.
GMs current price target is $4000 and the EN-V could be in production by 2014.
For a video of the EN-Vs in action, go here.
