Volkswagen Makes Its Move at Last

In the coming zero-emission era, Volkswagen has positioned electric vehicles (EVs) as vehicles for short-distance travel. Previously, they announced the "E-Bugster," an EV version of the new "The Beetle," and the "Golf blue-e-motion," an electrified Golf.E-BugsterVolkswagen has announced the "E-Bugster," an EV version of the new "The Beetle," and the "Golf blue-e-motion," an electrified Golf.Golf blue-e-motionWhile both were so refined that they could have been put into production as they were, Volkswagen held back from commercializing them, citing that the CO2 emissions generated by EV power generation and transmission were greater than those from fossil fuel vehicles.

Now, Volkswagen has finally decided to put the "e-up!" into production. As the name suggests, it is based on the company's smallest compact car, the "up!"up!, with its powertrain converted to a motor.

The motor delivers a peak output of 60 kW (82 PS), a continuous output of 40 kW (55 PS), and a maximum torque of 210 Nm. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 14 seconds and has a top speed of 135 km/h. As it is a pure EV, there is no transmission, and mechanical noise is said to be virtually zero.

The power source is a 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery located under the floor. The vehicle weighs 1,185 kg and has a cruising range of 150 km (NEDC measurement). Charging, which is done from the same location as the gasoline model's fuel filler, supports both DC and AC charging, accommodating various charging methods according to the market. Like other EVs, charging to 80 percent takes only 30 minutes.



Externally, the car is characterized by LED daytime running lights mounted on the front bumper, a design common to Volkswagen EVs. To reduce air resistance, covers are fitted to the grille, the underside of the body, and the sides. Additionally, the 15-inch polished wheels and the VW emblem with a blue background are unique to the e-up!. The interior is unified with light gray trim and blue seats.

Although it was a limited preview at the annual general meeting this time, it will be publicly unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2013 (IAA 2013) in September, at which time pre-orders will begin.