In 2030, urban areas will be home to more than 60 percent of 8 billion world population. This will allow greater pressure on public infrastructure is already struggling to meet demand for transport and basic services.

General Motors and its strategic partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), sharing a common vision to meet the needs of personal mobility of radical changes in personal urban transport. They explore several options for drivers of tomorrow. Among the most promising is a new vehicle called the FR-V.

FR-V, which stands for electric vehicle network, maintaining the fundamental principles of personal mobility – freedom – while helping to remove the vehicle from the environmental debate and redefine the direction of design. FR-V is a two-seater electric vehicle is designed to alleviate the problems of traffic congestion around the availability of parking, air quality and accessibility to the city tomorrow.

model three-EN-V was established in Shanghai. They represent three different characteristics that emphasize the fun of transport of the future: Jiao (Pride), Miao (Magic) and Xiao (Laugh). The concept will be presented from May 1 to October 31 at SAIC-GM Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai. Shanghai will become one of the epicentres forming personal mobility solution for the future.

EN-V reinvents the car with DNA creates a new vehicle by the convergence of electrification and connectivity. It provides an ideal solution for urban mobility, which enables the future of the car to be free of fossil fuels and emissions, without traffic jams and accidents, and more fun and fashion forward, “said Kevin Wale, president and CEO of GM China Group.

Breakthrough

GM concept FR-V platform has evolved from a personal platform for urban mobility and accessibility (PUMA) prototype developed by Segway and started in April 2009. Segway has been working with GM to develop and provide multiple copies of the training platform that seamlessly connects and powers of U-EN.

FR-V GM concept is driven by an electric motor at each wheel with two modes. The dynamic stabilization technology allows FR-V, offering a unique ability to carry two passengers and freight in the light of an area of nearly one third of a conventional vehicle. Could literally “turn on a dime” in the operating envelope own. In addition, while the FR-V is a drive-by-wire, support the ability to function independently or manual. Motors not only provide power for acceleration, but also the vehicle to stop.

Power engine powered by a lithium-ion batteries which produce zero emissions. Recharge can occur from a conventional wall outlet using a standard household outlet, allowing the FR-V Travel at least 40 miles on a single charge. FR-V can also improve the efficiency of public infrastructure of electricity since the vehicle can communicate with the grid to determine the best time to charge based on overall usage.

By combining Global Positioning System (GPS) with a vehicle-vehicle communication and remote sensing technology, the concept of EN-V can be operated manually and independently.

Its ability to operate autonomously offers the promise of reducing traffic congestion by allowing the EN-V to automatically select the best route based on information in real-time traffic. The concept also uses wireless communication to enable the network of “social” that can be used by drivers and occupants to communicate with friends or business associates while traveling.

This combination of detection technologies, wireless communications and GPS navigation technology, the basic game, the pieces that can migrate from the concept of FR-V and the possibility of opening the way for future systems advanced vehicle safety.

Ability to communicate with other vehicles and the infrastructure that could significantly reduce the number of vehicle accidents. Thanks to sensors and vehicle-based camera system, FR-V can “feel” what is nearby, allowing the vehicle to react quickly to obstacles or changes in driving conditions. For example, if a pedestrian steps in front of the car, FR-V will reduce speed to one slower and safer and stop faster than current vehicles.

GM has been a leader in the development of autonomous vehicle technology, having worked with students and faculty at Carnegie Mellon in the U.S. city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This collaboration is “The Boss” Chevrolet Tahoe, which gives life to the operation of autonomous vehicles for the year 2007. FR-V reflect lessons learned from “The Boss” and provides mobility to people who can not otherwise operate a vehicle.

“The concept of EN-V represents a major breakthrough in GM research has been done for autonomous vehicles for life,” said Alan Taub, GM Global Vice President of Research and Development. “The building blocks that enable autonomous capability is the concept of EN-V that the alert line crossed the blind spot detection and adaptive cruise control which is used in some GM vehicles on the road TODAY ‘hui. ”

GM FR-V concept has been designed for speed and a variety of current urban drivers. Weighing under 500 pounds and about 1.5 meters long. For comparison, a typical car today weighs over 1500 kg and three times longer. In addition, the car currently require more than 10 square meters of parking space and parking for more than 90 percent of his time. FR-V smaller and more maneuverability means the parking lot can also contain five times more than FR-V an ordinary car.

Designs smaller, smarter

Although lead FR-V in terms of efficiency and technology, has also established a new benchmark for the design of the vehicle. On his debut, GM has a team of design in the world give their visions of what the future will look like mobility. Xiao (Laugh) designed by the design team at GM Holden in Australia, while the display (Pride) Jiao written by the designers at GM Europe and Miao (Magic), designed at General Motors Advanced Design Studio in State of California.

Each FR-V has a unique design to display the flexibility of the platform drivers. Design each with its own personality FR-V, with the opening of a unique and elegant interior design and innovative colors, lighting and technology president. Xiao offers lighter charm, with its “blue beast” of painting and nautical-inspired design. Miao took most of the design elements of the consumer electronics industry, as evidenced by the soft, the masculine air. Miao Designers also used to display the innovative lighting solutions, including extensive use of LED lights. With its clean lines and bright paint, Jiao took the design impact of TGV and masks of Chinese opera.

EN-V combines innovative technology and significant material, which has provided the team to design a whole new world to explore, “said Clay Dean, director of Advanced Design GM North America. “Because the structure of lightweight materials and integrated control, we have created unique surface forms not traditionally found in automotive applications.”

Body and a canopy of FR-V GM concept built from carbon fiber, lexan and acrylic materials, custom color most often used in race cars, military aircraft and spacecraft because of their characteristics strength and lightness. Ability to work with innovative materials such as providing a learning opportunity for the design team from GM for feasibility studies of future applications of the traditional automobile.

FR-V compact size makes it ideal for use in densely populated cities, thanks to the use of sophisticated security and propulsion technologies. But good things come in small packages, as evidenced by its design of the FR-V, which offers maximum visibility to the outside world. A simple interface to enable the Wi-Fi based on residents to remain connected to the outside world.

“The future of how we move around urban areas like Shanghai could combine the best of personal mobility and transportation. There is a better solution and he called the FR-V. This shows that we two knowledge and skills to create a way to get people who not only provide a “better city, but also provide people who are” better life, “said Taub.