Golf blue-e-motion Signals Electrics Coming to VW Line

Golf blue-e-motion Signals Electrics Coming to VW Line «

Golf blue-e-motion Signals Electrics Coming to VW Line

Volkswagen has plans to launch an electric vehicle as early as 2013. The Golf blue-e-motion will likely be based on the upcoming seventh generation Golf hatchback. This move will allow drivers to experience pure electric power in the most successful car model in Europe. The developmental car you see here is the current Golf fitted with an all-electric powertrain.

VW’s Golf blue-e-motion concept is quite far along in the developmental process, no surprise since Volkswagen is no newcomer to electric drive. This automaker’s exploration with electrics dates back to an electrified Transporter in 1973. The first 25 horsepower electric Golf emerged in 1976. Volkswagen has continued electric drive development with cars like the CityStromer in 1981 and the Space Up! concept as recently as 2007.

The Golf blue-e-motion concept is powered by a 115 horsepower electric motor driving the front wheels. While that doesn’t sound like a lot, the motor’s 199 lb-ft torque makes it feel quite peppy. For comparison, the 2.5-liter five-cylinder gasoline engine in the standard Golf produces 170 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm. Electric motors produce maximum torque immediately, so the power delivery provides great acceleration from a stop.

The Golf blue-e-motion stores electrical energy in 180 lithium-ion battery cells bundled into 30 modules. These modules are located primarily beneath the rear hatch floor and rear seat, with four of the modules secreted in the area between the front seats. This configuration has a total capacity of 26.5 kilowatt hours of electricity. The batteries have a dedicated air-cooling system to maintain maximum performance.

The all-important question with all pure electric vehicles is how far a car can travel on a charge. In this case the Golf blue-e-motion’s range is reported at 93 miles, or 150 kilometers. That’s close to the Nissan Leaf’s claimed 100 mile range and the projected range for the Ford Focus BEV. That’s with today’s battery chemistry. As development continues, Volkswagen may find even greater range.

Volkswagen utilizes a ‘sail’ feature that disengages and shuts down the electric motor when a driver lets off the accelerator, similar to the scheme used on the Touareg Hybrid. This minimizes mechanical drag so the Golf can coast more efficiently to optimize range. A control on the shifter allows a driver to manipulate how much free-flow coasting the car does verses regenerative braking, which uses the drive motor as a generator to slow the Golf blue-e-motion and recapture electrical energy.

There are selectable energy management profiles, too. If you have longer distances to cover, setting the car to maximum range mode is the way to go. In this mode, the blue-e-motion is configured for super-efficient operation to achieve the greatest driving range. You can also select a mode for maximum comfort and another for sporty driving dynamics, depending on your needs at the time. Changing modes reprograms electric motor power, climate control, top speed, and the car’s battery regeneration strategy. When the time does come to recharge, the Golf blue-e-motion is plugged in to a receptacle located behind the normal gasoline fuel filler door.