GM EN-V

The EN-V represents what could soon be possible on mainstream small cars, and its auto pilot mode is a true innovation. GM claims that the EN-V would cost around £8,000 if it was produced, but for now it remains an amazing technological showcase. 

Could this bizarre pod be the future shape of urban motoring? US firm General Motors is famous for building powerful muscle cars, but the EN-V 
concept – or Electric Networked Vehicle – proves that it’s also at the cutting edge of electric technology. Auto Express flew out to Shanghai in 
China to try out this visionary vehicle. 

At 1.5 metres long and wide, the EN-V is roughly half the size of a Smart ForTwo. Three different versions of the EN-V have been made, and they were attractions 
at GM’s pavilion at the Shanghai Motor Show. Each concept was presented by
a separate division of GM, and the car we drove was created by the firm’s European team. Its sleek styling was inspired by hi-tech bullet trains.

The platform underneath uses the same technology as a Segway scooter, so the whole car balances itself on two wheels and shifts its centre of gravity 
to move forward and back. The wheels slide

back and forth independently of the body to keep it level at all times. 

After stepping into the cockpit and closing the huge glass canopy, the EN-V is surprisingly roomy, but as this is just a prototype, there are no creature 
comforts like air-con, sat-nav or a stereo!

Robotic

On the move, the hand controls 
feel strangely light, so there’s almost no sense of feedback or friction. But the instant changes of direction 
and the ability to turn on the spot give the EN-V a robotic level of precision that conventional cars don’t have. 

The electric motors provide 440Nm of torque –more than a BMW M3 – but the majority of that is used to keep the car balanced and standing upright. The lithium-ion battery is about 75 per cent smaller than you’ll find on a standard electric vehicle, such as the MINI E, so maximum range is limited to 25 miles. But the most impressive thing is the innovative autonomous technology that lets it communicate with traffic around it. 

Armed with a combination of cameras, wireless sensors and GPS tracking, not only can the EN-V pilot itself, detect other cars and pedestrians and avoid them, but it can also be remotely controlled with a smartphone. By downloading 
an app, you can command the car to drop you off at a specified location and send it away to park itself. The system can even be used to let two EN-Vs drive in perfect formation through traffic. 

Whether this technology can be adapted to real road conditions remains to be seen, but it’s a genuine snapshot where urban driving could be heading.

Rival: Renault Twizy

This two-seater electric quadricyle has the futuristic looks to match the EN-V, but it doesn’t feature any of its self-driving technology. It can’t match the GM concept’s power, but has a better range of up to 60 miles.