e-Golf - It's Electric! Boogie Woogie Woogie!

(Hand-made working prototype E-Golf in 2012)

Volkswagen had 20 working prototypes in North America in 2012. They were given to different reporters, engineers, and a handful of Volkswagen Group employees to test out it’s capabilities in every day life. After much anticipation, Volkswagen had its North American unveiling of a production e-Golf at the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show.

 The e-Golf will be Volkswagen’s first purely electric vehicle to be sold in the U.S. market. With production of the e-Golf staying in Wolfsburg, Germany, it will have the 7th generation body styling of the Golf, with some minor detailing to set it apart. The e-Golf receives a single panel grille (similar to the Jetta Hybrid) with blue lining into the headlights, unique wheels, full LED headlights and C-shaped LED lights on the bumper, and a tasteful rear spoiler. Air vanes are also placed on the C-pillar to manage airflow to the rear. On the interior, the e-Golf is the same as any other Golf with the exception of the gauge cluster that features a power/regenerative braking display, and a unique multifunction display. The interior is subjective to change for the U.S. market when released, but it is said will be very well equipped. Like the Jetta Hybrid, the VW emblems have blue outlining. The color blue is associated with Volkswagen’s sustainability initiative called, “Think Blue”. The initiative calls for encouraging eco-concious behavior everywhere, every day. You’ll see blue outlining on emblems in all our low-emission vehicles. This includes our 7 TDI Clean Diesel models like the Passat, the Jetta Hybrid and Touareg Hybrid, and of course the newest to the bunch, the fully electric e-Golf.

(Functions like radio will run on a separate car battery, not lithium-ion pack)

Underneath the hood, the e-Golf has a 115-hp synchronous permanent-magnet AC motor that can provide up to an astonishing 199 lb-ft of torque. It weighs in at 3,090 lbs, is said to reach 25 mph in 4.2 seconds, and 62 mph in 10.4 seconds. With a top speed limited to 87 mph, the e-Golf’s range is estimated to be in between 70-90 miles. Because Volkswagen waited to release the vehicle with the 7th generation body styling on the MQB platform (see last week’s GTI article for more on the new Modular Transverse Matrix), Volkswagen was able to use the new flexible chassis to integrate the lithium-ion battery within a stabilizing frame under the front and rear seats, and in the area of the center tunnel. This saves so much space, virtually taking away no cargo or passenger room for the consumer. 

Car-Net will definitely be a standard feature for the e-Golf, with additional features that are special for this vehicle. Different settings for the car and information will be made available to manage through your smartphone or the Car-Net website. Functions include climate control with programmed departure time, charging of the battery, accessing vehicle data, and vehicle status like lights or if the charger is plugged in.

Census polls show that the average commuter drives between 30-40 miles a work day, round trip. And out of the more than 315 million people in the United States, only 600,000 are considered mega-commuters, traveling over an hour and half or over 50 miles a day. It’s safe to say with EV cars having the comfort to charge at home overnight, and with more parking garages throughout America providing EV stations, this can be a car that can be used by most Americans. Although the e-Golf’s fuel economy is average with EV cars currently on the market, the e-Golf stands out in a sense that you’re not giving up interior space, curb appeal, and the feel of a Volkswagen. In my opinion, any of those reasons should make you wait for the e-Golf if you’re in the EV car market. For comments and questions, tweet us @stohlmanauto!

Esther Cho

Volkswagen Product Specialist

@esther_ch5