Volkswagen to reveal EV

[dpeilow]

VW to reveal electric car | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

"We will not launch a niche market car just to show our electric technology,” he continued. “We would only launch a car that people could actually buy at a reasonable price. It would need to have a range of 200km, be safe, reliable and able to be used everyday. It would be a car that fits with the Volkswagen brand."

 

[AnOutsider]

Cool info. Always thought it strange VW wouldn't be pushing the envelop here

 

[TEG]

Perfect quote, DPeilow. That is what we want to hear from all the manufacturers.

 

[SteveF]

That is what we want to hear from all the manufacturers.

There's also this bit from the article that seems to corroborate Tesla's stance:

"We see hybrids as a stepping stone, not a solution.”

 

[dpeilow]

VW and BYD partner up for electric cars

Last week, Volkswagen and Chinese automaker BYD signed a memorandum of understanding to work together "in the area of electric mobility" and vehicles that use li-ion batteries. BYD Chairman Wang Chuanfu (yes, the guy who likes to drink battery fluid) and VW's Martin Winterkorn signed the MOU in Wolfsburg, Germany. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board for Technical Development at Volkswagen, said in a statement (available after the jump) that, "Hybrids and electric vehicles will play an increasingly important role [for VW], of course. Particularly for the Chinese market, potential partners such as BYD could support us in quickly expanding our activities."

 

[DDB]

VW and BYD partner up for electric cars

Does a Memorandum of Understanding imply that VW will form a joint venture of sorts with BYD technology? I'm not sure we can assume that... Maybe a concept with the intention of buying its drivetrain and batteries from BYD--I suppose that makes sense.

Does anyone think this has to do with BYD's announced delay of [years was it which was just recent?]

 

[dpeilow]

From the story that TEG posted (The Big Battery Race is On: Can the U.S. Compete? | BNET Auto Blog | BNET)

Meanwhile, Volkswagen has also chosen a battery supplier for its future hybrid and plug-in vehicles, and it’s China’s BYD.

 

[dpeilow]

The Associated Press: Volkswagen to unveil new electric car at IAA

German carmaker Volkswagen AG said it would unveil several new models at this week's Frankfurt Auto Show, including an electric car called the E-Up.

At a reception before the start of the show Monday evening, the company said the E-Up compact would likely only go into production in 2013 and approach production levels of that of its other popular compact cars only by 2020.

The company said the front wheel drive car's lithium ion battery will have 18 kilowatt hours energy capacity enabling a driving distance of around 130 kilometers, or about 80 miles, depending on driving style.

"One of the basic milestones on this timeline is the mass produced electric car," Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn said in a statement.

He said only in high volumes and on all continents could one truly speak of the beginning of the electric age in automobiles and a perceptible reduction of their environmental impact.

"The concept car now being presented in Frankfurt very realistically shows how we envision such a Volkswagen with pure electric drive — technically, visually and with regard to a practical size," Winterkorn said.

 

[TEG]

Volkswagen's BIG Plans For Electric Vehicles Could Make It The World's Largest Automaker

 

[TEG]

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/05/volkswagen-electric-car-2013/

 

[dpeilow]

Volkswagen presents the first battery-powered Golf Blue-e-motion

Volkswagen debuts E-Lavida in China

 

[tdelta1000]

By making an EV Golf, VW is taking steps to ensure it does not lose its base as they dive into the EV arena. I thought that was a smart move on VWs part.

 

[dpeilow]

Well, this is more of a toe in the water exercise, much like BMW's Mini-E. They may bring out a production Golf EV in the long term, but this is more of an experiment.

I'd still have one though.

 

[Iz]

Volkswagen plans to sell 300,000 electric vehicles a year by 2018, which would translate to 3% of all sales. VW's hybrid ambitions could lead it to overtake Toyota as the world's largest automaker within eight years.

With a 130 km (80-mile) range that is not going to happen. I do not believe EVs will sell in such large quantities until average min. range is 563 km (350-miles), recharge times are greatly reduced and battery life is ~ 1000 cycles.

 

[EVNow]

With a 130 km (80-mile) range that is not going to happen. I do not believe EVs will sell in such large quantities until average min. range is 563 km (350-miles), recharge times are greatly reduced and battery life is ~ 1000 cycles.

Or post Peak Oil will price a lot of people out of oil market / rationing is introduced.

 

[SByer]

Or post Peak Oil will price a lot of people out of oil market / rationing is introduced.

It doesn't even have to be post peak oil if the U.S. would just stop subsidizing oil so heavily.

 

[vfx]

I thought we were post peak.

 

[Cobos]

May I add that VW has a sort of sordid past just like GM does. They already have an EV it's called the GOLF Citystromer. It was a lead-acid EV Golf if I recall correctly.

Cobos

 

[dpeilow]

That is indeed true. Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield of EVcast has one. I saw the insides of its motor this last Friday. :smile:

 

[vfx]

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/05/17/volkswagen-releases-more-images-of-the-e-golf/

The 85-kilowatt electric motor and power electronics reside in the engine compartment and drive the front wheels through a single-speed transmission. At just over 3,400 pounds, the electric Golf is about 450 pounds heavier than a diesel powered Golf Bluemotion. The e-Golf can accelerate to 62 mph in 11.8 seconds and has an estimated range of 93 miles. The full production e-Golf will be launched in 2013 along with an electric Jetta and Up mini-car.