Car of the Future - "ENV" By GM

Over the years we’ve seen advancements in technology, especially in the automotive department. From rear-view cameras to parking assist and many more interior upgrades. The only thing missing was a satellite based vehicle that uses GPS to navigate and drive itself. A few months ago, we saw Google testing it’s new satellite driven car on the streets, but there will be more on that once it is in development. For now, let’s focus on what has actually been planned and conceptualized. GM has released a new concept car, the GM ENV.

The car is bubbled shaped, as seen in the picture to the left, and is known as an Electric Networked Vehicle which will have zero emissions and will rely on an electric motor for power. Nothing special right? We have the Tesla roadster as well as a few other companies developing electric cars, so what’s so special about the GM ENV? The ENVuses GPS technology allowing the car to be driven autonomously but also features a manual mode if you wish to maneuver the car on your own.

The vehicle was developed in partnership with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC) and was first seen on display at the SAIC-GM pavilion during the World Expo which took place in April, 2010. The ENV’s are only two seater, which is apparently GM’s notion to save space as they believe cities to be extremely crowded in the future to the drastic population increase.

The platform for the ENV’s was developed in partnership with Segway to give it its balance and light cargo hauling abilities. The car is also able to ‘turn on a dime’ according to GM. The Lithium batteries that power the ENV are good for 40 km round trips, which is enough for the majority of peoples daily commutes and can be charged from a regular household outlet.

“The future of how we move around in urban areas like Shanghai can combine the best of personal mobility and public transit. There is a better solution and it is called EN-V. It demonstrates that we have both the knowledge and the ability right now to create a way to move people that not only ensures a ‘better city’ but also offers people a ‘better life,’” says Taub, global vice president of GM research.

Will this economical, environmentally friendly and technologically advanced car actually attract investors and consumers? We’ll just have to wait and see the results when the car is in development, but we’ll keep you updated!