Volkswagen Westfalia Could Return As An Electric Vehicle

A next-generation Volkswagen Westfalia is slated to be unveiled on April 15th, meaning a new generation can get its camping on in the cozy confines of a German-built bus. While it will only be a concept to begin with, if Volkswagen does decide to bring the famous microbus back, it could be as an electric vehicle. That’s the word from AutoCar, which got the info from Volkswagen board member Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser.

The new Volkswagen Transporter would use a front-mounted electric motor with batteries installed beneath the floorboards, and its design is said to be heavily influenced by the microbus of yesteryear (which really only went out of production a few years ago). if Volkswagen could managed to bring the costs in line with expectations, than a concept could actually become a production model…especially if those 400-mile solid-state batteries work out. A 21st century Volkswagen Westfalia with days worth of electricity on board to power your outdoor adventure is a tempting thought indeed.

A word of caution though. Volkswagen has teased the idea of an electric Transporter revival before, most recently with the Bulli concept that debuted waaaay back in 2011. Four years later, and still no new microbus. However, electric vehicles are much farther along today than they were in 2011, and this time around Volkswagen might actually be able to make good on their promise.

In other words, it’s alright to get your hopes up, but be prepared for disappointment too.

My 21st century hippie wife will probably be the first person in line for one too. I’ll tell you what, it’d make a great vessel for travelling to music festivals. A plug-in hybrid would make even more sense for those who want to get as far removed from civilization as possible, but with 250 miles of range I could find plenty of peaceful places to park my electric Westfalia. Maybe this time, Volkswagen won’t wimp out.

Volkswagen Announces Plans to Work on Lithium-Air Batteries

It has been confirmed that Volkswagen is working on a powerful new battery for its EV fleet. Speaking at the Geneva motor show, Dr. Heinz-Jakob Neusser said that “an 80kWh unit is under development using our own technology. It would provide between three and four times the battery power in a given package.” This means that a battery of equivalent physical size to that used in the new 2015 Volkswagen e-Golf could hold the amount of energy in a top-end Tesla Model S.

Neusser refused to name the specific battery chemistry, but didn’t deny it’s a lithium-air unit. Lithium-air has been a battery holy grail of sorts since the 1970s, but obstacles such as electrolyte degradation, manufacturability, and high cost have prevented the lithium-air takeover that would truly catapult EVs into the mainstream. But improvements on lithium-air technology continue to move forward with recent work by researchers from Mie University in Japan.

The primary distinction between lithium-ion and lithium-air batteries is that lithium-air batteries replace the cathode with air — which results in a notably lighter battery, with the potential to hold in a great deal of energy. Some researchers have stated that these “breathing” batteries could result in EVs with ranges greater than 300 miles a charge.

“Our system’s practical energy density is more than 300 Wh/kg,” Nobuyuki Imanishi, PhD stated. “That’s in contrast to the energy density of a commercial lithium-ion battery, which is far lower, only around 150 Wh/kg.”

A technology breakthrough of this kind could transform the range capability of hybrids and EVs, and Volkswagen isn’t the first car manufacturer to recognize the potential. Toyota Motor Corporation has tried to avoid the use of lithium-ion batteries, like those present in its Prius Plugin-EV and RAV4 EV, as much as possible due to their high cost. But the company is currentlyconducting research on the use of lithium-air technology.

“As Toyota anticipates the widespread use of electric vehicles in the future, we have begun research in developing next-generation secondary batteries with performance that greatly exceeds that of lithium-ion batteries,” Toyota wrote.

If Volkswagen and Toyota are successful in developing lithium-air batteries, that could mean bad news for Tesla Motors, which is currently in the process of bringing Elon Musk’s planned “gigafactory” into life. The factory would enable the car manufacturer to dramatically increase lithium-ion battery production.

But Musk shouldn’t abandon his plans just yet. Volkswagen hasn’t provided a timeframe for these new batteries, regulating its announcement to the “wouldn’t it be nice” category for now.

And it would be nice to have Tesla-like range in a new, compact EV car, don’t you think?

Source: The Telegraph | Image: Jo Borras/Gas2.org

The Great Bruce Meyers Drives the Zelectric Bug (w/ Video)

When Bruce Meyers stripped the body off an old Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle and fitted a light, fiberglass tub to it some fifty-odd years ago, he invented the dune buggy. He might have called it the Meyers Manx, but we all know it’s a dune buggy. Regardless of what you call the iconic beachcomber, however- *cough* dune buggy *cough* you surely realize the impact it had on VW culture. Recently, however, the great Bruce Meyers went for a drive in what might be the future of said car-culture niche: the all-electric Zelectric Bug.

Zelectric has been building top-notch electric cars with a retro twist for a few years now. What they haven’t done, as far as I know, is apply the same high-tech power unit to something like the Meyers Manx. Not that others haven’t built electric Baja-style racers, but the Manx is fun where they’re … I dunno. Depressingly serious?

Let’s go with that.

Check out the video, below, to see Bruce Meyers behind the wheel of the Zelectric Bug and give his take on the forward-looking throwback. Then, let us know what you think of the car in the comments.

Sources | Images: Zelectric Motors, via Jalopnik.

Volkswagen XL1 Concept - 2014

Volkswagen XL1 Concept (2014)

Volkswagen’s latest “1-liter” car

*** 1 liter of fuel needed to travel 100 kilometers (235 mpg) ***

E N G I N E

* 0.8-liter turbocharged, intercooled DOHC 8-valve diesel inline-2 (circa 47 CV)

* permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor assist (circa 27 CV)

* combined power rating circa 60 CV

T R A N S M I S S I O N

7-speed dual-clutch automatic

P E R F O R M A N C E

0 to 100 km/h: 11.8 sec

400 m (standing ¼-mile): 22.0 sec

Top speed: 160 km/h (limited)

VOLKSWAGEN LAUNCHES THINK BLUE® TOUR

PRESS RELEASE

- Sustainable mobility tour to bring interactive experiences and innovative technologies to communities across the country

Herndon, VA - During an event at its Electronic Research Laboratory today, Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced the Think Blue® Tour, an interactive mobile display and activity center created to educate consumers about ecological sustainability and fuel-efficient technologies. The 15-stop tour will set the principles of Think Blue-Volkswagen's holistic approach to environmental sustainability-in motion as it travels throughout the United States from March through December 2012.

"This tour is a great way to demonstrate our Think Blue philosophy, which is at the heart of the Volkswagen brand," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "We are incredibly excited to offer consumers a unique experience that not only showcases Volkswagen's fuel-efficient product range and manufacturing, but also engages them in fun games and activities that reinforce individual action and eco-friendly behavior."

The tour will be driven by a high-efficiency cab and 53-foot trailer decorated with vibrant Think Blue imagery, which will serve as the backdrop for each event. At each stop, Volkswagen will display a range of fuel-efficient vehicles, including the all-new 2013 Jetta Hybrid, E-Golf prototype and Passat TDI® Clean Diesel, among others.

In addition, consumers will have a chance to get involved by entering contests and participating in games and other activities that reward sustainable behavior. Interactive exhibits range from a Think Blue info-kiosk to a pedal-powered smoothie blender, as well as take home giveaways.

Volkswagen product and technology specialists will be on hand at each event to guide visitors through the exhibit and discuss the wide range of current and future fuel-efficient powertrain options, as well as the Think Blue initiatives that Volkswagen and its partners have created in recent years. They will also share information regarding the energy-efficient processes and technologies at work in Volkswagen's Platinum LEED® Certified manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Tour stops include locations that best represent different aspects of the Volkswagen Think Blue philosophy, from major environmental summits and public policy conferences to cycling competitions and outdoor music festivals. The display is completely scalable, and can range from a fully interactive outdoor experience to a smaller booth that showcases Think Blue products and technologies at an indoor trade show.

The current tour schedule spans more than 12 cities in ten states from coast to coast, with additional stops likely to be added in the coming weeks. The first three tour events will take place on the West Coast in April-May, including:

April 19-22, Monterey, Calif. – Sea Otter Classic Bike Race April 29, Denver, CO – Cherry Creek Sneak (Running Race) May 6-9, Los Angeles, Calif. – Electric Vehicle Symposium

About Think Blue® Think Blue embodies Volkswagen's goal of creating environmentally friendly products and solutions, encouraging more eco-conscious behavior and contributing to a sustainable future. It is about being more responsible on the road and more environmentally conscious-not just in our cars, but everywhere, every day.

By focusing on designing and producing cars that are both environmentally sound and a pleasure to drive, Think Blue is driving progress. These truly are cars without compromise.

About Volkswagen of America, Inc. Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen's operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Volkswagen is one of the world's largest producers of passenger cars and Europe's largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Beetle, CC, Eos, Golf, Golf R, GTI, Jetta, Jetta SportWagen, Passat, Tiguan, Touareg and Routan vehicles through approximately 600 independent U.S. dealers.

Groundbreaking pre-production Volkswagen XL1 caught testing on the ice

Just over one year ago, we heard reports suggesting that Volkswagen would actually be building a production version of its Formula XL1 concept for limited consumption. And while the skeptics among us were quick to dismiss these reports with a resounding "yeah, right," this latest set of spy shots show that Volkswagen is indeed making progress on an honest-to-goodness road-going model of its 1.0-liter fuel economy warrior.

It's still unclear exactly what will power the production XL1, though the concept car featured a two-cylinder TDI diesel paired with an electric motor, lithium-ion battery pack and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. All in, this is said to be good for an astonishing 235 miles per gallon. It might look big and sleek, but the XL1 is about as long and wide as a Volkswagen Polo. It should be ultra-light, too – the concept version tipped the scales at just 1,753 pounds.

The XL1 might look sleek and sporty, but performance will be anything but. The latest reports state that the production car will be limited to a stop speed of about 75 miles per hour, and that it'll take 32(!) seconds to shoot from a stand-still to 50 mph.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for future XL1 prototypes as development continues, but for now, scroll through our attached high-res image gallery to see the space-age VW for yourself.



Source: Autoblog Green

VW Golf Plug-in Hybrid

The MkVII Volkswagen Golf will be available with hybrid power – a first for the Golf. And we’ve driven a prototype of the plug-in.

It’s based on the current three-door model, and featured a 1.4-litre TSI turbo petrol engine, boosted by an 80Kw electric motor. It also had a lithium-ion battery that can be topped up from the mains.

On the move, the plug-in Golf is very impressive indeed. Under most driving conditions it’s effectively an electric car – and you really need to press very hard on the throttle for the petrol engine to cut in at all.

In town, it’s fast enough for you to breeze through traffic. Plus, the motor is so powerful, the engine is barely used on high-speed roads.

VW says the Golf will have an electric-only range of around 30 miles and should be able to return 141mpg with overall CO2 emissions as low as 46g/km.

The new MQB platform will also allow designers to mount the battery and electric motor in a way that doesn’t encroach on passenger or luggage space.

Source: autoexpress.co.uk

VW CEO says plug-in hybrids are the future

According to Auto Motor und Sport, Volkswagen chief executive officer, Martin Winterkorn, has loosely committed to launching a plug-in hybrid version of every model in the German automaker's future lineup of vehicles. Winterkorn told Auto Motor und Sport that plug-in hybrids have a considerable advantage over electric-only vehicles and, as such, the automaker's near-term future will be chock-full of plug-in hybrids.

VW's head honcho, in a translated interview with Auto Motor und Sport, stated:

I am firmly convinced that plug-in hybrids are the right solution for the next ten years. You can drive 50 to 60 kilometers all-electric and have the full flexibility of an internal combustion engine. The plug-in hybrid will be there for all platforms in the Volkswagen Group.

Apparently, Winterkorn is not satisfied with the performance of lithium-ion battery technology and says that even under ideal conditions, electric vehicles often have a range of less than 150 kilometers (93.2 miles). This, according to Winterkorn, is simply insufficient but he did say that lithium-air batteries might hold the key to future.



Source: Autoblog Green

VW plans to introduce EVs in Japan within 3 years

Volkswagen AG plans to introduce electric vehicles based on its Up! and Golf compact cars in the Japanese market within three years, according to Gerry Dorizas, head of VW’s Japanese unit.

In addition to releasing EVs in Japan, Dorizas says the German auto giant will debut more competitively priced hybrid vehicles. It unveiled its first hybrid model in January, a luxury sport utility vehicle priced at 8.98 million yen.

Dorizas indicated the company expects 14% of passenger car sales in the Japanese market to be hybrid vehicles this year and is looking to add less-expensive models to help broaden its customer base.

Source: Nikkei

Test Driving the Volkswagen Electric Golf

Volkswagen e-motion EV

When Britain has done with subsidised battery-electric space-hoppers, eco-celebrity flash mobs and brainless bolides masquerading as electrified urban transport, the VW Golf will be left standing sentinel to our politicians' crass venality.

Next year they will spend up to £43 million of our money subsidising the wealthy at up to £5,000 a shot to buy a ragtag army of battery-powered scooters, golf carts and trikes.

Only Nissan will have a sensible car, the Leaf, on sale and that won't make any money for its maker, or save much, if any, for its users. The environment is unlikely to gain, either, because Britain generates the lion's share of its volts by burning fossil fuels.

That's not to say electricity isn't a key part of the next car generation, but forcing the electrification of the automobile with tokenist grants does nothing to make Britain a centre of battery-car technology. It's as fruitless as rain-dancing around the garden in the bid to alter the course of a cricket match.

Everything - the infrastructure, renewable generation, a viable supplier sector, healthy markets, recharging systems and public trust - has to grow together.

Cameron and Clegg, terrified of being dubbed anti-environmental, have bought off the eco lobby with these grants, mean in amounts and crafty in time restrictions. If you get an electric grant next year, you probably don't need one.

Volkswagen has deliberately avoided the bandwagon and this new battery-electric Golf, which will not hit the showrooms until the end of 2013, seems almost disdainful of gimmicks.

It is just the latest in a series of battery-electric Golf models from Wolfsburg. Unveiled in 1976, the first, experimental 25bhp Golf tested successfully for more than 12,500 miles.

In 1981 VW unveiled a series of CityStromer battery Golf models in conjunction with electricity supplier RWE. Powered by lead-acid batteries, performance and range were gradually increased and VW sold about 100 of them. More recently, we have seen the plug-in hybrid Golf Twin-Drive, which goes trial in Berlin this year.

Parked outside the VW Autostadt museum complex, the battery Golf is spectacularly understated. Apart from body stickers, only the absence of an exhaust pipe gives the game away.

Passenger space is completely unchanged and only the slightly raised boot floor betrays the presence of a high-tech 26.4kWh lithium-ion battery and attendant wiring.

The extra weight is partly compensated by the loss of a fuel tank and piston engine driveline: the battery Golf weighs just 452lb more than its diesel counterpart with twin-clutch transmission.

The dashboard looks entirely conventional until you read the measurement units of kilowatts. VW has cleverly used analogue dials to indicate electricity consumption, remaining range and battery condition, although digital displays are available with the usual pull down facia menus.

A single gearlever sprouts from the centre console and the systems are activated with a conventional key start. More braking energy regeneration can be summoned via a "B" setting on the gearlever quadrant or by pulling paddles behind the steering wheel,

Pull away with three adults on board and the Golf is brisk and strong up to about 50mph, where the torque peak starts to tail off. Even so, it will happily cruise at 75mph and pulls gamely up to 90-100mph. It is eerily silent and refined, and much better than rivals that are nearer production.

It's worth recalling here that the original Golf GTI had just one fewer bhp than this battery car and - even though it weighed about half as much - only mustered a top speed of 112mph.

Throw the electric Golf around and body roll is well controlled, while the electrically assisted steering is well weighted and direct. The ride is slightly abrupt on Michelin eco tyres, but the suspension has yet to be fully optimised.

Production cars will come equipped with a three-stage drive system comprising Comfort (the full 85kW), Normal (power restricted to 65kW) and Range+ (a further reduction to 50kW). It seems just about OK, especially when you're desperately conserving power to get to your destination.

Less successful is the paddle-shift motor braking system, which seems to affect the accelerator mapping so that you have to give it a boot full of kilowatts to maintain speed. We weren't sure about the absence of an automatic "creep" in the single-speed transmission, either.

Such systems use power, but if you don't left-foot brake, the Golf will roll back on hills unless you transfer from brake to throttle with speed and accuracy (or else use the parking brake).

Promising, then? It is probably the best electric car we've driven, but there's so much else for Britain to sort out before the battery Golf can be a viable means of transport for a select few.

Perhaps the last and refreshingly frank words should come from the man charged with making a success of the project, VW Group chairman Martin Winterkorn.

"To be a resounding success," he says, "the electric car must be affordable for a wide range of people and must be uncompromisingly practical in everyday use.

"Only then - at high production volumes and if possible on all continents − can one truly speak of the beginning of the era of the electric automobile and of measurably positive environmental effects."

As my Nan used to say, stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

The facts

TESTED VW Golf blue-e-motion battery-electric five-door hatchback. With 694lb, 26.4kWh, 180-cell water/air-cooled lithium-ion battery in boot, under rear seats and in centre tunnel. 176lb AC synchronous (brush-less) electric motor driving the front wheels. Operating voltage 324 volts

PRICE/ON SALE No prices yet. On sale end of 2013 with a test fleet in deployment between then and now.

POWER/TORQUE Motor 85kW (113hp) peak, 50kW (68hp) continuous, 199lb ft of torque

TOP SPEED Electronically limited to 93mph

ACCELERATION 0-62mph in 11.8sec

RANGE 87 miles in German-only NEDC Combined cycle

RECHARGE TIME Six hours for a full charge with 240v 15amp domestic supply, half hour for 85 per cent charge with three-phase 50kW quick charger

CO2 EMISSIONS None at tailpipe

ON THE STEREO Sailing by Rod Stewart

VERDICT Spectacularly useable battery electric car, with honest range that will suit the majority of commuters. Some details need more work and there are bigger issues about renewable electricity generation, but the Golf's gone electric and how.

TELEGRAPH VERDICT Four out of five

Source: Telegraph

Electric VW Beetle Sets Off On Trans-Canada Trip

Here we have a group of university students driving an electric vehicle that can travel 185 miles traveling 60 miles per hour. Meanwhile, GM feels good about themselves in creating a 40 mile EV Volt. Are we missing something here? I would love to be able to walk into a dealership and buy an electric VW with these range figures. Their bug can travel 340 miles at 30 mph. For a commuter who does not leave the city limits, this means they could almost go two weeks between charges. Well done.

From Inhabitat:

There’s nothing better than a road trip, unless it’s an emission-free road trip where you break a record. A group of students from the University of British Columbia are attempting to set a record for the fastest coast-to-coast drive across Canada in an electric vehicle – in this case, an electrified classic Volkswagen Beetle.

In an adventure that could easily be dubbed “Herbie Does Canada”, the group of students left Vancouver last week hoping to make the 4,000 mile journey in their electrified 1972 Vee Dub E-Beetle. The car was converted by the UBC Electric Car Club to run on electricity — it features a three-phase AC induction motor hooked up to a lithium iron phosphate battery.

With the new modifications, the Beetle is capable of traveling 185 miles at 60 mph and over 340 miles at 30 mph. As such, the team walks a fine line between a decent driving speed and making sure the battery didn’t go flat — especially considering that it takes four hours to recharge the battery. Impressively, the E-Beetle is capable of reaching a top speed of 85 mph and boasts four wheel discs with regenerative braking.