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Cadillac ELR regen on demand brakes win 2014 Green Car Technology award

Wed, Jan 22 2014 Just like the Oscars, Green Car Journal decided a few years ago to up the number of nominees for its annual award. For the annual "Green Car of the Year" award, given out at the Los Angeles Auto Show each year, there are five finalists. For the "Green Car Technology" award, there are a fantastic ten. At the 2014 Washington Auto Show today, the Cadillac ELR and its regen on demand brakes managed to beat out the nine other finalists to claim the second annual "Green Car Technology" award.

What is the purpose of the "Green Car Technology" award? Green Car Journal says it wants to reward "technologies that enable significantly improved environmental performance in vehicles today," which is why only fuel-saving technologies that were "in use on American highways during the award year" can be considered.

The Caddy's brakes beat out the Acura Sport Hybrid SH-AWD powertrain, the Audi 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine, the BMW carbon-fiber passenger shell from the i3, the 1.0-liter EcoBoost engine used by Ford, the plug-in hybrid powertrain in the Honda Accord, Hyundai's hydrogen fuel cell technology, the regenerative brakes in the Mazda i-ELOOP, the plug-in hybrid powertrain used in some Porsche models and, finally, the Ram 3.0-Liter EcoDiesel engine.

Last year, Green Car Journal gave Mazda's Skyactiv technology the inaugural Green Car Technology award.
Cadillac ELR Regen On Demand Wins 2014 Green Car Technology Award
Green Car Journal Lauds Cadillac's Electric Car Tech at Washington Auto Show


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.
Featured Gallery DC Auto Show: 2014 Green Car Technology Award
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  • News Source: Green Car Journal
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By Sebastian Blanco


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