|
Volkswagen has
unveiled an all-new
zero-emissions vehicle – the
E-Up! concept.
Powered by an
electric motor capable of
delivering a peak of 81 PS (54
PS constant) and 154 lbs ft of
torque channelling drive through
the front wheels, the E-Up! can
accelerate to 62 mph in 11.3
seconds before reaching a top
speed of 84 mph.
The E-Up! weighs
just 1,085 kg – a remarkable
figure given that the
lithium-ion batteries powering
the vehicle account for 240 kg
of this total.
The batteries
have a capacity of 18 kWh which
allows a theoretical range of
over 80 miles. Through the use
of proposed public charging
stations 80 per cent of the
vehicle’s battery capacity can
be made available within an
hour. Using a 230-volt domestic
system would require a charging
time of around five hours. This
process is aided by a series of
solar panels measuring 1.4
square metres mounted on the
roof.
Housed under the
floor of the E-Up!, the
batteries are protected by a
specially designed crash
structure and are kept cool by a
series of heat exchangers. The
entire system, including the
electric motor, transmission and
differential are all extremely
compact to free up as much space
inside the car as possible.
Drawing
inspiration from the new design
direction established by Walter
de Silva
(Head of Design, Volkswagen
Group) on the Golf as well as
the up! concept from the 2007
Frankfurt Show, the new E-Up!
evolves the look with a
distinctive ‘face’ and clean,
minimalist lines complemented by
intricate detailing around the
front and rear lights. The
E-Up! measures just 3,199 mm in
length and sits on a 2,190 mm
wheelbase with minimal front and
rear overhangs.
Despite the
diminutive dimensions the E-Up!
is spacious inside and is
capable of carrying three adults
plus a child. The 3+1 seating
arrangement means two adults can
sit on the passenger side of the
vehicle with the passenger seat
mounted 50 mm further forward
than the driver’s seat to allow
this to be possible. On the
driver’s side a small space is
available for occasional use by
adults or children. The total
loadspace is 85-litres, rising
to 320-litres when the seats are
folded.
The innovative
approach to the drivetrain and
packaging is continued in the
design of the interior. To
reduce demand on the vehicle’s
batteries simple mechanisms such
as the mirror adjustment and
windows are manually operated.
These simplistic methods extend
to the touchscreen HMI (Human
Machine Interface) system which
relays critical information to
the driver including the amount
of charge remaining and offers
advice on nearby recharging
stations.
On unveiling the
E-Up! Prof. Dr. Martin
Winterkorn, Chairman of the
Board of Management of the
Volkswagen Group said: ‘Cars
with pure petrol and diesel
engines – which in the
foreseeable future will continue
to be unbeatable for mid- to
long-range distances – will be
supplemented by cars like the
E-Up! in coming years. And that
will happen starting in 2013.
The concept now being presented
in Frankfurt very realistically
shows how we envision such a
Volkswagen with pure electric
drive technology, visually and
in terms of size.’ |
