EN-V FAQ
1. Q: What is EN-V?
A: EN-V (Electric Networked - Vehicle) is a concept vehicle that provides a glimpse into GM’s idea of what mobility could look like in the 2030 timeframe in future megacities, like Shanghai, Mumbai and Beijing.
2. Q: Why is GM demonstrating this urban mobility solution at Expo 2010?
A: Global Expositions are the “Olympics” of science and technology and have served as the launch pad for many inventions. With the Expo 2010 theme being “Better City, Better Life,” GM and SAIC decided that World Expo 2010 Shanghai represented the ideal venue to introduce a new vehicle form, EN-V. EN-V provides personal transportation solutions for the challenges cities will face in 2030.
3. Q: What technologies does EN-V use and why?
A: EN-V utilizes electric and connectivity technologies to provide an urban transportation solution. It brings together a suite of technologies to provide a small, safe alternative for future personal mobility. The current two-wheel, two-seat design uses lithium-ion batteries to power the motors housed in the two wheels as well as convergence of connectivity through wireless communications and sensor technology; autonomous driving and parking; electrification and lithium-ion battery vehicle integration; and mobile Internet access and GPS. GM also is offering a wealth of systems integration and design experience.
4. Q: How much will one of these vehicles cost?
A: Actually the V2V technology used on EN-V is relatively inexpensive and the size of EN-V’s battery and motor is small compared to most electric cars. The vehicle’s other materials and drive-by-wire system are also inexpensive. Also, the total operating cost for a vehicle like this will be 60-80 percent less than for a conventional car when considering all expenses including the cost of charging the vehicle and insurance.
Based on current electricity rates in China, EN-V can be driven 24,000 kilometers for RMB 840 (1 kwh = 0.5 RMB today). If a person would drive an average of 40 kilometers a day, that means EN-V would cost RMB 1.4 (about 20 US cents) per day to drive.
5. Q: How can EN-V expand the availability of personal mobility?
A: EN-V is designed for the types of speeds and ranges experienced in cities today. It weighs less than 500 kilograms and is around 1.5 meters long. Today’s cars require more than 10 square meters of parking space and are parked more than 90 percent of the time. EN-V’s smaller size and higher maneuverability mean the same parking lot can accommodate five times as many EN-Vs as typical automobiles.
EN-V’s autonomous operating mode allows the vehicle to be used by elderly and handicapped people who cannot operate conventional vehicles. EN-V’s ability to leverage GPS and advanced traffic data, combined with its autonomous capability, will help reduce traffic congestion and expand mobility to a wider audience.
6. Q: How does EN-V drive by itself with the help of GPS and sensors?
A: EN-V is powered by a lithium-ion battery and the motor propulsion system. It is supported by an autonomous driving system, which is comprised of GPS, vision and ultrasonic sensors, and communication devices. The motors provide power for propulsion, steering and braking. EN-V also uses advanced sensors and drive-by-wire systems to provide the ability to operate the vehicle in either manual or autonomous mode. When used together, EN-V’s sensors, vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-pedestrian communication systems will help reduce vehicle accidents by braking and operating in autonomous mode.
7. Q: What is the range?
A: 40 kilometers. We are continuing to research infrastructure and customer requirements to define an optimum range for customer acceptance as well as affordable vehicle cost. Half of all trips in metropolitan areas are 5 kilometers or less and 28 percent are 1.6 kilometers or less.
8. Q: What is the top speed?
A: The top speed is 40 km/h, which is reasonable considering typical traffic speeds and speed limits in many major cities. In many dense urban centers around the world the average traffic speed is below 32 km/h.
We believe average speed is more important than top speed in urban driving.
9. Q: Why does it have two wheels instead of four wheels?
A: EN-V’s two-wheel design uses less space, improves maneuverability, and is lighter than having four wheels. However, EN-V can be designed and engineered for variants with four wheels, if needed for benefits of design and improved performance.
10. Q: How is EN-V connected to GM and SAIC’s shared vision for transportation in 2030?
A: With the theme of “Drive to 2030,” the SAIC-GM pavilion will present an idealistic view of urban transportation in 2030. GM and SAIC’s vision is a future in which driving will be free from petroleum and emissions, free from congestion and accidents, and more fun and fashionable than ever before.
EN-V reinvents the automobile by creating a new vehicle DNA through the convergence of electrification and connectivity. It offers a solution for the challenges faced by the world’s urban communities.
Free from petroleum/emissions: EN-V is powered by a lithium-ion battery and is propelled by electric motors. It has zero emissions, offering the promise of removing the motor vehicle from the environmental debate.
Free from accidents/congestion: With sensing technology, drive-by-wire systems, wireless communication and GPS-based navigation, EN-V can drive autonomously. EN-V’s sensors, combined with vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-pedestrian communication systems, are used in combination to help reduce vehicle accidents by braking and operating the vehicle in autonomous mode. With GPS, wireless communication and advanced traffic data, EN-V can optimize travel routes and avoid traffic congestion.
Fun and fashionable: With fewer engineering and safety constraints, EN-V provides design freedom to use new materials and design language. Because of its compact size and the fact that its wheels are powered by electric motors, EN-V has great maneuverability and makes driving a lot of fun.
11. Q: Will we see EN-V at the SAIC-GM Pavilion?
A: The pavilion will be divided into three areas: pre-show, main show and post-show. EN-V will be introduced in the main show area; it will be featured in a movie on GM and SAIC’s vision for urban transportation in 2030. In the post-show area, visitors will see an actual EN-V.
