Cadillac ELR Regen On Demand Wins 2014 Green Car Technology Award

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Cadillac's innovative Regen on Demand technology has taken top honors as the winner of Green Car Journal's 2014 Green Car Technology Award™. The prestigious award was presented at a Green Car Journal press conference during the Washington Auto Show's second Policy Day.

"Cadillac has cleverly evolved a common electric-drive efficiency system into an intriguing feature that adds a new dimension to the driving experience," said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and CarsOfChange.com. "Ever-increasing efficiency is crucial to our driving future, yet efficiency itself is not an attraction for a great many car buyers. Cadillac's Regen on Demand is an inspired example of how technology can increase efficiency while connecting with a driver, enhancing driving dynamics along the way."

Like most regenerative braking systems in hybrid and electric vehicles, the ELR's electric motor acts as a generator while braking, automatically recovering energy that's delivered to the batteries as electricity. Unique to the ELR extended range electric vehicle, Regen on Demand also allows a driver to instantaneously engage and disengage regen at will by pulling back or releasing left or right steering wheel paddles. This not only creates electricity on demand, but enhances driving dynamics by inducing regen drag that allows decelerating before turns and in other circumstances, without braking or requiring a driver's foot to reposition from the accelerator pedal.

"Regen on Demand is one of the key systems enabling the Cadillac ELR to merge performance with efficiency in a dynamic new way," said Jim Vurpillat, director of emerging markets at Cadillac. "Putting regenerative braking at the driver's fingertips supports the ELR's 340-mile total driving range while also adding a fun-to-drive element matching the engaging design and performance of this premium luxury coupe."

Along with Cadillac ELR's Regen on Demand, 2014 Green Car Technology Award™ nominees include the Acura Sport Hybrid SH-AWD powertrain; Audi 3.0-liter TDI clean diesel engine; BMW i3 carbon fiber reinforced plastic passenger cell; Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine; Honda Accord plug-in powertrain; Hyundai hydrogen fuel cell; Mazda i-ELOOP brake energy regeneration system; Porsche plug-in hybrid powertrain; and Ram Truck 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine. Each of these finalists earns Green Car Journal's 2014 Product of Excellence honor that acknowledges the important role they play in creating a new generation of highly efficient vehicles.

The Green Car Technology Award™ focuses on enabling technologies that bring significantly improved environmental performance to today's production vehicles. Technologies must be in use on American highways during the award year to qualify for consideration in the Green Car Technology Award™ program.

About Green Car Journal
Based in San Luis Obispo, California, the award-winning Green Car Journal has focused on the intersection of automobiles, energy, and environment since its launch in 1992. As part of its mission, the magazine hosts events, produces ride-and-drives of advanced and clean fuel vehicles, and conducts various outreach efforts to educate consumers on better and more environmentally positive vehicle choices. A digital sample of the print edition can be viewed at www.gcjusa.com.

About WANADA and The Washington Auto Show
The 2014 staging of the 72nd Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC, known in the industry as the 'Public Policy Show,' will offer a showcase of more than 700 vehicles from over 42 domestic and import auto manufacturers and a special exhibit of the world's most luxurious rides. In addition, the Washington Auto Show has been accredited by OICA, the industry credentialing organization for the top auto shows in the world, as one of the five top tier Auto Shows in America.

SOURCE The Washington Auto Show