GM Design Reveals Secret Concepts For The First Time

GM Design has unveiled never-before-seen concepts called the PEV2 and PEV3, the automaker’s take on an electric urban mobility solution for crowded cities. These secret city cars were designed similarly to the Renault Twizy or the Isetta-inspired Microlino. So, how did GM – known for its gas-guzzling SUVs and muscle cars – create these quirky city slickers?

According to Wade Bryant, Design Manager at General Motors Advanced Design, the project was established three years ago to look for solutions to future transport solutions and business models for GM. The team studied three major cities (New York, London, and Shanghai) to see what challenges faced commuters. Notably, GM Design tried to identify the unmet needs of businesses and individuals that need to travel and transport items through congested metropoles.

Here’s Why GM Created The PEV2 And PEV3

The research team found that residents in these cities often travel less than 40 miles daily and rarely exceed 40 mph. That means commuters are sitting in traffic for longer than they need to, in cars that take up more space and use more energy than they need. As a result, General Motors Advanced Design created the PEV2 and PEV3. As their names suggest, these tiny tykes carry two or three passengers despite measuring approximately 98.4 inches in length.

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To put that into perspective, the Chevrolet Suburban – a full-size SUV many Americans use for urban commuting – is 2.29 times longer than the PEV2. Admittedly, it can seat considerably more passengers. Designed to be shared, the passengers sit directly behind the driver, allowing the body to be as narrow and compact as possible. Both models have small enough footprints “to park nose-in to the curb, saving valuable urban parking space.” The PEV3 looks slightly wider than the PEV2, though. As we can see, these concepts carried Chevrolet badges, so they were most likely destined to be sold under GM’s most successful brand.

Would Have Been Perfect For Urban Commuting

No range estimates or performance information has been provided, but the PEV2 and PEV3 would likely be equipped with a compact battery that would provide between 60 and 80 miles of range, more than enough for a day of city driving. While small cars are generally unloved in North America, compact vehicles have always been popular in Europe. With cities becoming increasingly crowded, more Europeans are turning to vehicles of this ilk, such as the Citroen Ami. The Japanese also favor small cars, with Kei cars populating the densely packed streets of Tokyo for decades.

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GM Reveals Designs That Never Made It To Production

Some of them should have.

While they’re too small for American tastes, perhaps local consumers could have been convinced if they were affordable. New cars (particularly electric vehicles) are out of reach for the average buyer. For example, those who live in cities like New York would be able to use a PEV2 or PEV3 to zip through traffic. Should more people adopt them, traffic would be reduced, and parking spaces would be freed up, making life easier for everyone. It’s a shame GM didn’t consider putting this into production, but it’s worth noting that SAIC-GM-Wuling (GM’s Chinese joint venture) produces the tiny Hongguang Mini EV.