Volkswagen has revealed an all-electric version of the VW Golf. This isn’t a production car, but VW admits its an important step on the way to developing a fully dedicated electric car.
Unveiled by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and Germany’s environment minister Sigmar Gabriel, the new Volkswagen Golf uses a small internal combustion engine to keep the battery charged; the same principle as GM’s eFlex system. VW is calling it Twin Drive. It can also be recharged from the mains. Powered by electricity alone it has a range of 50km.
The driver can monitor energy usage from the car’s infotainment screen. A red kill switch in the centre console acts as an emergency cut out. The lithium ion battery is located in the boot.
The car is part of a larger project initiated by the German government to explore alternatives to traditional energy sources; the long term aim is “to provide a zero emission platform for the use of renewable energy in future mobility.” (Thanks to Autocar for News and Pictures)
Unveiled by VW CEO Martin Winterkorn and Germany’s environment minister Sigmar Gabriel, the new Volkswagen Golf uses a small internal combustion engine to keep the battery charged; the same principle as GM’s eFlex system. VW is calling it Twin Drive. It can also be recharged from the mains. Powered by electricity alone it has a range of 50km.
The driver can monitor energy usage from the car’s infotainment screen. A red kill switch in the centre console acts as an emergency cut out. The lithium ion battery is located in the boot.
The car is part of a larger project initiated by the German government to explore alternatives to traditional energy sources; the long term aim is “to provide a zero emission platform for the use of renewable energy in future mobility.” (Thanks to Autocar for News and Pictures)