Volkswagen’s inauguration into the electric market will be this, the E-Up. Scheduled for launch at the end of next year, the model has 18kW batteries that can be charged in five hours, giving a range of 80 miles.
The E-Up will sit alongside electric and diesel versions of the Up city car and features a number of nods towards a full production model. The batteries in the concept are protected by a specially designed crash structure and are kept cool by a series of heat exchangers.
See the VW E-Up picture gallery
The electric system is compact and frees up room for passengers. The E-Up weighs just 1085kg - light considering the batteries alone weigh 240kg.
Solar panels measuring 1.4 square metres help to back up the batteries. The Up is shorter than a Fiat 500, but has the same wheelbase, with minimal front and rear overhangs.
Inside, the car has a three-plus-one seating arrangement, allowing two adults to sit on the passenger's side and a child to sit behind the driver. The total load space is 80 litres, rising to 320 litres when the seats are folded.
The E-Up is designed to offer a zero-emissions alternative for people who only drive short distances. “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,” said VW Group boss Martin Winterkorn.
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Re: Frankfurt motor show: VW E-Up
I thought the idea of the VW UP and its SEAT and SKODA pals were that they are to be the entry level sub £6000 cars.
Re: Frankfurt motor show: VW E-Up
When does the non electric UP come out?
Re: Frankfurt motor show: VW E-Up
Just what i thought too.
And how is it light? 240 KG of batteries, means it weighs 845kg without them. More than a Toyota Aygo, and surely the electric motor weighs less than a convensional engine and gearbox? And the Aygo seats 4, not 3 plus one.
When the Up was going to be small, cheap, rear engined and drive it had a purpose, but now its yet another conventional small car, and being a VW it wont be cheap (i mean the real ones not this electric one)
And it looks like a Lupo. Nothing wrong with that, but why all the hype, we have seen lupos before.