If you're like most people, you probably didn't think you'd ever link Cadillac and "plug-in electric car" in the same sentence, but last Wednesday, August 17th, General Motors announced that it plans to sell just such a vehicle.
Designed to use technology similar to that found in the Chevrolet Volt, new Cadillac ELR actually debuted in at the 2009 Detroit auto show, though at the time it was a concept car known as the Converj.
Two years later, the car's development has just begun, and GM has yet to share any details on performance, price or timing, though the folks at Cadillac do say that the ELR will have an electric drive, a four-cylinder engine meant to act as a generator, and a T-shaped lithium-ion battery.
If it really is patterned after the Volt, it will operate mainly on battery power, though a gasoline-powered generator will kick in when 65% of the battery power has been depleted. Under electric only power, the range is likely to match the Chevrolet EV's 25-50 mile range, which can be extended significantly under gas engine power.
Don Butler, vice president of marketing for Cadillac, issued a statement promising that the ELR will offer a combination of a stylish design, the feel of a luxury coupe, and electric propulsion. He described that combo as "something not otherwise present" on the automobile market.
It is obvious that Cadillac hopes this announcement will spark renewed interest in the brand, which had a big comeback last year, only to see sales slow in the last few months.
