Volkswagen, which earlier this year unveiled production ready models of the e-up! and e-Golf electric cars, will be showing off for its North American debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show the e-Golf. It will go on sale in select states in the fourth quarter of next year for an as yet undisclosed price.
The e-Golf consists of an electric drivetrain mating a 115 horsepower electric motor and 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery that together offer up 199 lb-ft. of torque, allowing the electric car to hit 62 miles per hour in 10.4 seconds. Top speed is limited to 87 miles per hour and, in terms of driving range per charge, one can expect it to average between 70 and 80 miles.
image via Volkswagen
Several different home charging options exist for VW’s newest electric vehicle, including through its standard, included 7.2 kW onboard charger. What’s said to be the most optimal solution for charging is via the available 220-volt wallbox for a garage or carport which, charging at 7.2 kW, can top off a fully depleted battery in less than four hours. The more traditional wall outlet option, meanwhile, can take around 20 hours to do its thing.
There are three different driving profiles one can choose from which each have their impacts on operating and efficiency. The car automatically
defaults to ‘Normal’ mode upon start up. To extend the range, the first option is the ‘Eco’ mode, which pares back the electric motor’s maximum power output to 94 hp and the starting torque to 162 lb-ft. In parallel, the electronics reduce the output of the air conditioning system and modify the response curve of the accelerator pedal. In Eco mode, the e-Golf is limited to a top speed of 72 mph and 0 to 62 mph acceleration is increased to 13.1 seconds.
In ‘Eco+’ mode, the electronics limit the power output to 74 hp and the starting torque to 129 lb-ft, further flatten the accelerator pedal response curve and the air conditioning is switched off. The e-Golf now reaches a top speed of 56 mph and accelerates at a correspondingly slower rate. Nevertheless, full power, maximum torque, and the 87 mph top speed can be obtained if the driver depresses the accelerator pedal fully down in either ‘Eco’ or ‘Eco+’ mode.
Other key features of the e-Golf include multiple regenerative braking settings; a lower coefficient of drag; sound reduction techniques for a quieter ride; energy-efficient LED headlights; an extremely high level of available equipment, starting with a touchscreen navigation system; a new instrument layout and a new assistance system called the “Automatic Post-Collision Braking System” that slows the vehicle when it is involved in an accident in order to significantly reduce its residual kinetic energy.
* Nino Marchetti, EarthTechling
