Aug. 19, 2011 — Cadillac officially announced its entrance into the electric vehicle market Thursday with plans to produce an extended-range luxury coupe called the ELR.

The car will use a T-shaped lithium ion battery to power an electric drive unit backed up by a four-cylinder gas engine-generator, according to Cadillac. Like the Chevy Volt, The ELR’s primary power source will be electricity. The gas engine will power a generator to charge the battery when it’s low.

The ELR is based on the Cadillac Converj concept car.

“The concept generated instant enthusiasm,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present—the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving.”

Development is just underway, so other details are limited, according to Cadillac. Information on performance, price and production timing will be release_notesd later.