The Future of Urban Mobility

Concerns for the future continue to alter how we apply and use technology. As cities become more crowded and polluted, new methods of transportation need to be developed and implemented in order for cities to continue normal operation. In order to cope with such issues, GM, alongside its partner Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group, has developed a two-wheeled car system for city transportation.
The two-wheeled concept, known as the Electric Networked-Vehicle (EN-V) concept, involves many unprecedented vehicle technologies. In each of the two wheels, there is an electric powered motor. The motors not only provide power for acceleration, but also bring the vehicle to a stop. GM has also worked aside Segway in order to create a drivetrain platform and an efficient energy source for the car. The platform for the car is an evolution of the platform Segway developed for the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility (P.U.M.A.) prototype. The companies have worked together to develop and deliver multiple copies of the platform that can connect to multiple EN-V’s.
The EN-V cars are powered with lithium ion batteries and can be charged in standard wall outlets. The car is able to communicate with the electric grid in order to determine optimum charge times. One charge can power the car for over a 40km distance.
GM has combined GPS, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and distance sensing technology in order to develop an autonomous driving option. Vehicle based sensor and camera systems enable the EN-V to decelerate and stop before reaching an unexpected pedestrian. Also, these systems allow the car to maneuver through traffic and perform other difficult driving tasks such as merging, passing, and parking. Alan Taub, Global VP of GM Research and Development, claims, "The EN-V concept represents a major breakthrough in the research that GM has been doing to bring vehicle autonomy to life."

http://www.gizmag.com/gm-en-v-concept-vehicle/14617/

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