General Motors has unveiled the Cadillac Converj Concept at the 2009 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The Cadillac Converj Concept is a four-passenger vehicle powered by GM’s revolutionary electric propulsion technology, Voltec, that enable the Converj to achieve 40 miles of gas-and emissions-free electric driving with extended-range of hundreds of miles.
The Voltec electric propulsion system consists of 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, an electric drive unit and a four-cylinder engine generator and uses electricity as its primay source to drive the Converj.
The Converj primary power comes from a thermally managed battery pack that contain more than 200 lithium-ion cells to drive the car electrically up to 40 miles without using fuel and producing emissions. The battery is integrated into the vehicle’s chassis and stores electricity from the grid when the vehicle is plugged in. With 240 V, the battery could be recharge less than 3 hours or 8 hours from 120 V outlet.
The Cadillac Converj switches to the extended-range mode when the battery’s energy is low thus the electricity will be produced by a flex-fuel powered engine that acts like a home generator to create electricity. This enable the Converj to be driven for hundreds of miles until the car is refuelled or plugged in to recharge the battery.
The energy from the battery and the flex-fuel powered engine converts into mechanical energy to drive the front wheels. It also produces 120 kW and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque with the top speed of 100 mph.
The Converj is also equipped with GM’s Magnetic Ride Control where it could capture and store energy in the battery during braking.
At the exterior, the Cadillac Converj Concept features 21-inch wheels at the front and 22-inch wheels at the rear, a dark silver tri-coat body paint, an all-glass roof incorporates solar panels, a full under-vehicle cover (belly pan), minimal grille openings to reduce drag, low-profile rear view cameras, vertical headlamp and taillamp with light pipe technology with bolder LED and HID elements front and rear and daylight light spear at the top of the headlamps.
Inside, the Cadillac Converj Concept features 2+2 configuration and the top of the instrument panel are trimmed in Winter White synthetic suede trim and Midnight Black leather with polished aluminum and wood grain accents. The car also features renewable materials such as wool-blend carpeting, silk headliner and post-industrial suede.
Other features include organic LED on the reconfigurable instrument cluster, touch-screen navigation, climate, center-stack controls and audio systems, adjustable overhead white ambient lighting, unique “power on” sequence featuring blue-lit console graphics, screen that display features such as regenerative braking, battery charge level and power output, cameras that provide surrounding images on a screen placed high on the instrument panel without the need of rearview or side mirrors, a push button ignition and power-folding front seats.
Below are the specifications from the press release:
General
Vehicle type: 2-door, front-wheel-drive 2+2 coupe
Category: extended-range electric vehicle
Chassis: independent McPherson struts, front magnetic ride, compound crank twist axle rear, four-wheel disc brakes, full regenerative brakes to maximize energy capture, electric power-assist steering
Seating capacity: four
Performance
Top speed (mph / km/h): 100 / 161
EV range, city and highway (miles): Up to 40, based on EPA cycle
Dimensions
Wheelbase (in / mm): 108 / 2742
Length (in / mm): 182 / 4620
Width (in / mm): 74 / 1883
Height (in / mm): 55 / 1386
Battery system
Type: lithium-ion (w/ liquid-controlled thermal management system)
Energy (kWh): 16
Charge time: Less than 3 hours at 240V/8 hours at 120V
Electric drive unit
Power (kW): 120
Torque (lb-ft / Nm): 273 / 370
Exterior
Tire size: specially developed low rolling resistance tires on 21- and 22-inch forged aluminum wheels
