More details have been provided about the electric version of the Volkswagen Golf – to be known as the Golf blue e-motion.
The vehicle is now scheduled to reach the market by 2014 having been previously been touted for a 2013 release.
It will be driven by an electric motor that is integrated in the front engine and has a maximum power output of 85kW with a 26.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Its top speed is 84mpg and its projected driving range is 93miles. It can accelerate from 0-62mph in 11.8seconds. Volkswagen will confirm the final details on driving range on the launch of the production version.
However, Volkswagen is happy that the range is suitable for the bulk of customers with the German Federal Statistical Office pointing out that six of every 10 people in the workforce commute by car and on average 45.8 per cent drive less than 6.2miles on a one-way commute while another 28.1 per cent drive between 6.2 and 15.5miles.
Drivers will be able to see how much energy is being demanded on the gauge and a range indicator is also integrated.
A new feature is the display of regeneration intensity which gives the driver the option of pre-setting the braking energy recovery strategy over four stages. During the lowest stage the car sails as soon as the driver’s foot leaves the electric pedal with the motor controlled to zero-torque and only slowed by the rolling resistance of tyres and air resistance. Meanwhile, in the D3 stage, the maximum amount of kinetic energy is recovered and fed to the battery.
