Cadillac Converj: An Electric Car Made For Obama?

EcoGeek's Hank Green went to the North American International Auto Show and found all kinds of good stuff. One of our favorites here at HuffPost is this mean-looking electric Cadillac concept. Is it as cool as Obama's Cadillac limo? Yes, I daresay, and even cooler.

Of course, it might not be ready before the end of Obama's term as president. Here's some of Hank's reporting on the Cadillac Converj:

There's no word on a production date, but (if it gets made at all) we probably can't expect it before 2012. The car is built on the same platform as the Volt, with a stack of lithium ion batteries to hold a charge for the first 40 miles, and a small gasoline generator to re-charge the batteries after that 40 miles.

So, since the average commuter drives less than 40 miles per day, the car could be drive its whole life without ever using gasoline. Of course, if you need to go on vacation, extended-range EVs allow for that, letting you basically "recharge" with gasoline. At that point, it's not that green, but it is a lot more convenient than running out of juice and being stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Head over to EcoGeek for pictures of the Converj.

Comments

[iPolitics]

A nice ride

[iswideopen]

PE Obama won't be driving, so, the cars need to fit the budgets of us who can purchase them. It's an eye catcher, though.

[htd2009]

First Prez to push a Coupe on the weekend...?

[PlugINCarsRule]

It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents a gallon to charge and drive an electric car.The electricity to charge the car could come from solar or wind generated electricity.If all gasoline cars,trucks,and suv"s instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of N.D.This past year the high cost of fuel so seriously damaged our economy and society that the ripple effects will be felt for years to come.Why not invest in setting up some alternative energy projects on a national basis, create clean cheap electricity,create millions of badly needed new green collar jobs, and get out from under our dependence on foreign oil.What a win-win situation that would be. There is a great new book out called The Manhattan Project of 2009 Energy Independence NOW by Jeff Wilson. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in alternative energy.

[pokemon]

A good scooter can hit 60 and get 100 mpg, a bad one can hit 40 and get 100 mpg. Large vehicles are good for travel and bad weather.

[jerrypl]

This is the best GM can do. A VOLT platform Caddy. HUH? Toyota will have the full electric Prius out long before the VOLT gets rolling.

I suggest that Obama call up Neil Young and rent his fully electric 1959 Lincoln or use the engineer to retrofit a Caddy with a recharging electric motor.

http://eye-on-washington.blogspot.com

[MadamRoma]

Toyota is years behind on this technology. This car runs off an electric charge for the first 40 miles, then a small engine kicks in to recharge the battery. The gasoline engine never powers the wheels it simply recharges the battery that powers the wheels. This car will always get over 100 mpg and is capable of 250mpg, The Japanese products have nothing that compares, the Prius is old technology this is the future. The technology in this car also knows when you are within range of home, so the engine doesn't overcharge the battery enabling the owner to charge the battery at home, where the current is cheaper. This truly is the most innovative automobile ever produced anywhere in the world, nothing comes close, this is the moon shot.

[Decipherer]

Right you are Madam!

This technology becomes even cleaner and greener if the internal combustion engine is designed to operate on either pure fuel bioethanol or biodiesel exclusively. This is a modification that would be dead simple and easily and cost-effectively accomplished, making it an entirely fossil-fuel free motor vehicle.

[KillTheMessenger]

Why a GM shill would call herself MadamRoma is beyond me. Is it because you are selling rotten tomatoes?

[SailorBill]

This will be more expensive for GM to grind up than the EV-1! See "Who Killed the Electric Car".

[Decipherer]

"SailorBoy," it's past time for us to get over the late, great EV-1. GM made a huge mistake by shelving that product, but the knowledge and experience they gained along the way now lives on in the Volt and the Converj.

Embrace what GM is working its tail off to get to market, just in the nick of time to ensure its survival.

There is nothing like being confronted with your own demise to help you focus!

[KillTheMessenger]

GM has been confronted with their own demise for ten years. They focused on nothing but doing the same.

[ferrarimanf355]

Godwin's Law should be rewritten so that it applies to the EV1 and that crockumentary invariably coming up in every discussion about GM, and yes, it should mean that SailorBill loses the argument.

There should be a permenant moratorium on this...

[williamina]

And obama gets his ears in this how?

[pokemon]

They are used as sails with a rear wind, getting an extra 5 mpg.

Sorry O, they are big.....

[SangZe]

Why not present an AFFORDABLE car, one any blue collar worker can buy? Are cars only something for the increasingly rich, for those in congress and other lucrative venues? What good is an electric car if only the wealthy can afford them? Why are we bailing out an industry that has failed us? Why must we continue to cater to what the carmakers want rather than what is needed? I had cars in my youth that used far less gas than the average behemoth on the streets these days, less, in fact, than the proposed standard not yet in effect. Someone should teach people in Detroit how real cars are made.

[Decipherer]

They've all got high mpg vehicles available in all price ranges. We're talking about 30 - 35 mpg -- they may not all be hybrids and most of them are not, but if you're looking to spend $12,000 - 15,000, there are a number of decent new cars in the range that are reliable and economic to drive.

Don't forget that there are also outstanding used car values out there, including low mileage cars of all types coming off of leases.

What "blue collar" folks need is the credit to finance these purchases, the single biggest factor in the automobile industry's near collapse.

[KillTheMessenger]

How do you build an electric concept car for a show?

You roll and empty shell on the exhibit floor and post a sign in front of it with imaginary properties.

Done.

[sposton]

Exactly! In software world this is called vaporware.

[ObjectiveRealist]

Not really. Any number of proven motor & chassis designs are available. BMW is way ahead of the curve, but it probably isn't too late for GM to catch up to 21st century transportation standards and stay in business.

http://www.acpropulsion.com/company/press-releases.php

[KillTheMessenger]

GM failed to show a working version of the Volt every time they tried. Last time they asked the film crew to speed up the video to hide the fact that the vehicle couldn't climb a slight hill. So if this car is based on the same technology, it would be better to put a bunch of bungee chords or a giant spring inside the engine compartment to roll onto the show floor next to silently.

:-)

[KillTheMessenger]

Oops... sorry, my first post was meant as a reply to jeg.

You do know that you can buy any number of "glass smooth" AC motors in all sizes, from tiny micro positioning drives to ship engines, right? There is nothing special about any of that. A battery charger that works for all line voltages would be a first year student project at any EE department that does power electronics. There must be a thousand articles on multi-directional power inverters in the power engineering literature by now. Every time I do a search for inverters I find a couple of new entries into the "novel implementation of what grandpa knew how to do well enough" department. How do you think electric locomotives with regenerative breaking work?

If BMW has to buy something like that and can't develop it in-house, it's a rather poor sign for the technology management of the company.

Sorry, this EE is not impressed by any of this.

[jeg]

Except really, you take a volt chassis, which is based on the "E-Flex" platform, drop a cadillac shell on it, put in the Cadillac interior parts, and you're done.

The Volt mules are running, and running to specification. There's nothing vapor about the E-Flex platform. My only complaint is that A123 didn't get the battery contract, although I predict that will change once they get their Michigan plant up and running.

Short form: Volt is a certainty, so the Converj wouldn't take much effort if GM decides to make it.

[JScott]

Why do they always have to go with current styling cliches-swirly 7 spoke wheels, high mounted stop light in trunk lid (putting it at the bottom or top of the back window looks much cleaner) and plunking the rear license plate hole in the rear trunk looks so added on/retrofitted. And what about after 40 miles oh yeah back to enlarging the carbon footprint. And for gosh sakes provide DECENT ROOM in the back seat, otherwise just don't have one!!!!

[MadamRoma]

After 40 miles the small gasoline engine charges the battery as you drive, this car is capable of getting 250mpg. The wheels of this car are never powered by the gasoline engine, the engine simply charges the battery. This is the car of the future, Toyota and Honda are years behind on this technology.