First Test ELRs Roll Off The Line

It sounds like you can use the paddles to adjust the regen, from heavy to glide. Being able to adjust the regen makes it easier to do one-pedal driving in different conditions. A lot of Volt drivers like Sport and Low, with responsive go and harsh regen, but use normal modes on the highway where you're using a steady speed.

I'm not a fan of their designs, but I'm not American. The aggressive square is very much an American thing. But, looks don't affect my purchase so I'd drive it if anyone wants to gift me one.

 

The Volt and Prius have electronic continuously variable transmissions (e-CVT) made up of a planetary gear set and two motor/generators. The motor/generators are an integral part of the e-CVT design.

If you somehow physically cut the wires leading to the motor/generators, the transmission would fail -- it would not transmit power from the spinning output axle of the gas engine to the wheels. The Sun gear would spin freely and the wheels would not turn. The motor/generators are physically located inside the transmission case in both cars. The computer control of how power is generated from or driven through the motors is what causes the effective continuous gear ratios to change.

Insisting that the motor/generators are not inside or part of the E-CVT is implausible.

 

Somewhat minutia and semantics here. I would say any and all transmissions need something to power them, be it motor/generators or an internal combustion engine. Cut the power to the motor/generators on the planetary gear E-CVT transmission of The Prius and the transmission will not work. Cut the engine on a regular ICE vehicle and the transmission of a regular vehicle fails to move the vehicle.

However, since the motor generators are located within the transmission case, I will stand corrected. With expanded understanding, I now think your definition is more precise and thus more correct.

I was applying old school regular ICE and transmission thinking, where the transmission is purely the power conversion system, usually made up of gears...and whatever is powering that "transmission" is purely a separate entity.

If the motors exist directly in the transmission casing...I'll concede that your definition is correct.

 

The Prius, and I assume most other hybrids, start applying regenerative braking as soon as you let off the accelerator. No brake pedal involved. All these paddles do is adjust the amount of that braking. The end effect is similar to using a 'lower' gear on an automatic to get engine braking. It's just a way of controlling the car's driving behavior for varying road and traffic conditions.

Regenerative braking really needs to be thought of as engine braking. Both will slow a car down. Neither will prevent a car on an incline from rolling down it, or being push by some determined people. Only the friction brakes will do that on a car.

A real advantage is if it allows the regen to be turned off so that foot off the gas means entering a glide. Which is something many wished the Prius did instead of having the feather the accelerator.

 

Well, if I am going off to bomb someone I will consider a Cady then ;-)

'Agressive Box' is a great descriptor IMO. And the mismatched hood level to side windows still bugs me.

 

Now that's a great-looking car - maybe Cadillac's best-looking. It seems to minimize many of the off-putting cut lines that you see on the Volt. I like the idea of paddle-shifters to engage the re-gen. braking. I suspect owners will make abundant use of them.

 

So, The ELR is going to be a limited production vehicle after all. Cadillac To Be Single Production Run Priced From Mid $60,000?
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