Fuel Costs Less Than Half That of Fossil Fuels

On Saturday, March 8th, Volkswagen announced details regarding the pricing and purchase services for the mass-produced EV Golf model, the "e-Golf," at the EV promotional event in Berlin titled "electrified! e-mobility weeks by Volkswagen."

This is a promotional event for Volkswagen's dealers, press, and analysts from various countries, introducingthe company's vision for sustainable mobility centered on EVs.From Friday, March 14th to Sunday, March 16th, the event will be open to the general public free of charge. In addition to lectures on EVs and future mobility, entertainment programs including concerts by famous European artists and DJ performances will be offered, and visitors can also experience test drives of the"e-UP!".



The "e-Golf," the star of this event, is a pure EV model that had its world premiere at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Reservations have already begun in Germany, with deliveries scheduled for this summer or later. While we provided details in our coverage of the Frankfurt Motor Show, the exterior has been differentiated to give it the distinctiveness of an EV model compared to the existing "Golf" series, featuring LED headlights and LED taillights.

Instead of an engine, it is equipped with an electric motor that produces a maximum output of 85 kW (115 ps) and a maximum torque of 270 Nm (27.5 kgm). As previously announced, it accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 10.4 seconds and has a top speed of 140 km/h (electronically limited). For a city commuter, this offers sufficiently practical performance.

The battery driving this motor is a 24.2 kWh lithium-ion battery. The cruising range on a single full charge reaches 190 km. Energy consumption is 12.7 kWh per 100 km, which translates to a cost of 3.28 euros per 100 km. This is less than half the cost of fossil fuels like gasoline or diesel.

Rental Cars Also Provided Free for Owners

The "e-Golf" features a power meter that displays charging status and energy consumption in real-time instead of a tachometer, and the latest 8-inch touchscreen "Discover Pro" infotainment and navigation system. An application is also available to check charging status via smartphone.

Furthermore, it comes standard with the "e-Management" system, which allows users to set a departure time and optimize the cabin environment, including air conditioning, by that time. This system aims to prevent unnecessary battery drain during driving by adjusting the cabin temperature before starting.



Uniquely, Volkswagen offers a system called "Supplementary Mobility." This service is available to all "e-Golf" owners for three years from the date of purchase, allowing them to use rental cars provided by Volkswagen for long-distance drives free of charge for up to 30 days per year. While it requires switching vehicles, this service makes long-distance travel, such as during summer vacations where range or charging stations might be a concern, worry-free.

For reference, the price of the "e-Golf" in Germany has been announced at 34,900 euros (approximately 5 million Japanese yen). For those who primarily drive in the city but occasionally take long trips, the "Supplementary Mobility" service makes it a very realistic option.

Following its launch in the European market this summer, Volkswagen plans to start sales in Asia and North America by the end of this year. While there have been no specific announcements for Japan yet, if similar systems to those in Europe are introduced, it could significantly broaden its user base. Please look forward to our upcoming test drive report and further updates on the Japanese market.