Cadillac ELR Allows Drivers to Force Energy Regeneration

Cadillac'sCadillacUnited States of America, 1902 > present79 models
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ELRCadillac ELRUnited States of America, 2014 > present16 photos
will go on sale at the beginning of 2014 as the brand's first ever range-extended hybrid vehicle, and Cadillac is giving new details on the car. One interesting feature is Cadillac's Regen on Demand feature where drivers can use the steering wheel-mounted paddles to force the electrical system to start regenerating energy. 

“Regen on Demand enables ELR drivers to actively re-capture energy when slowing down, such as when approaching slower traffic or setting up for a tight turn. This allows the driver to take more active role in the electric vehicle driving experience," said Chris Thomason, ELR chief engineer. 

The system is activated when drivers take their foot off the accelerator and pull one of the paddles. The system begins decelerating the vehicle. Cadillac describes the deceleration as having similar strength to the engine braking from downshifting a manual transmission. Regen on Demand will not bring the car to a complete stop. As soon as the driver releases the paddle, the system begins coasting normally. 

The ELR still has traditional regenerative and friction braking as well, but the Regen of Demand uses a minimum of regenerative braking to generate electricity but not completely stop the car. 

The power is sent to the ELR's battery, which is located in the middle of the car under the floor. Cadillac predicts that the ELR will have a 35-mile range of pure electric power. Charging can be done through an onboard plug-in charger that supports either 120V or a 240V outlet. Charging on 240V takes 4.5 hours.