Car and Motorcycle

Styling

When it arrives in late 2014, the all-electric version of the Volkswagen Golf will join a relatively crowded field of small battery-powered cars. Here’s how it will stand out: by its smart mainstream style that doesn’t scream out for attention as a space-age vehicle. The Golf is an ultra-popular platform that combines comfort, practicality, refinement and the simple tasteful lines—inside and out.
The only similar attractive normal-looking all-electric car on the market is the Ford Focus Electric.
The E-Golf four-door hatchback looks like a regular Golf, except for aerodynamic wheels, a revised intake and grille, and a pair of C-shaped LED running lights. Carmakers like to give a signature color to their electric offerings—such as Fiat’s burnt orange theme for the 500e. VW goes with bright blue, although it’s not yet clear how this will be implemented with trim options.

Performance

The E-Golf is expected to sprint from 0-62 mph in just over 10 seconds. That beats the LEAF by about a second. Top speed is governed to 87 miles per hour.
For another point of comparison, the E-Golf employs an 85-kW motor compared to the LEAF’s 80-kW motor.
In our recent brief urban-only test drive, the E-Golf was sure-footed as we flung it into corners. All the needed power was delivered very quietly. The E-Golf has three power levels allowing drivers to optimize performance and range. In Normal mode, the E-Golf gives the driver a full 85 kilowatts of power, while the ‘Eco’ mode reduces peak power to 70 kilowatts and reduces the power consumption of the car’s air conditioning system. In “Eco +,” power is further reduced to 55 kW and the air conditioning system turns off. Even in restricted power modes, full power is given when the accelerator is pushed to the floor.

Efficiency/Range

The critical metric for evaluating EV range is the size of the battery pack, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWhs). Rule of thumb: a pack provides on average about 3.5 miles of range for each kilowatt-hour.
The E-Golf’s 24.2-kWh battery pack is right in line with similar EVs, like the LEAF and Focus Electric. That means you can expect about 75 to 85 miles of range on a full charge. We are highly doubtful of any reports saying the E-Golf will deliver 100 or more miles per charge on a regular basis.
However, unlike the LEAF, the E-Golf uses a liquid-cooled battery management system, which should mean more consistent range throughout the year. Liquid cooling keeps batteries warm in winter and cool in summer—minimizing the impact of temperature on driving range.
One cool driving feature available in the E-Golf is paddle-shifters (on the steering wheel) to control the level of regenerative braking. Dialing the regen up or down affects how quickly the car slows down without putting your foot on the brake. Slowing down faster—the motor-generator applies a grabbing action—means that more of the braking energy is used to recharge the battery pack. The net result is more range.
The E-Golf offers four regenerative braking modes, designated as D1, D2, D3, and B. They progressively increase the amount of regenerative braking applied, ranging from a no-regeneration (or “coast”) mode in D1—to heavy simulated engine braking in B. Anything stronger than D1 illuminates the brake lights, the same way the lights would come on if you hit the brake pedal to warn drivers behind you.

Charging

Volkswagen promises that the E-Golf will have a 7.2-kilowatt onboard charger. That means it can fully take advantage of 240-volt home chargers supplied with 30-amp service. For all intents and purposes, this will add the same amount of miles per hour of charging as with the LEAF, Focus and most other EVs. Technically, the rate of recharging is about 10 percent faster—but it’s a negligible difference, especially when considering that most charging takes place overnight when drivers are asleep.
In addition to 240-volt charging, the Volkswagen E-Golf will offer Quick Charging as a standard feature—where historically it has been an upgrade option. VW is using the so-called “Combined Charging System” or combo-cord favored by German and American automakers—as opposed to the CHAdeMO fast charging port utilized by Japanese vehicles. The network of combo-compatible Quick Chargers is not nearly as wide as CHAdeMO, but this is expected to level over time (as many Quick Charger providers begin to offer two plugs).
It’s rare for EV drivers to depend on Quick Charging except in a pinch.

Passenger/Cargo Room

The conventional VW Golf earns kudos for its relatively upscale interior for a compact car. The seats are comfy, with the level of support usually reserved for luxury cars. Dashboard gauges and controls are clear and accessible.
In terms of cargo, the baggage area in the gas- or diesel-powered Golf does lose about 10 percent of its capacity to make room for EV batteries. The Focus Electric compromises its cargo to a much greater degree.
Standard features with the Golf include an eight-speaker CD sound system and an auxiliary audio jack. Optional features include Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, satellite radio, iPod connectivity, navigation and an audio system with a touch-screen display.

Safety

The E-Golf has not yet been tested by safety agencies.

Price

The U.S. sticker price for the E-Golf has not yet been announced. But based on our assumptions about comparable models in various segments, we expect a price around $30,000 before incentives.

Comparisons of Similar Cars

The E-Golf is bigger and more robust than the suite of subcompact EVs from Fiat, Chevy, Smart, and Mitsubishi. The VW electric car, while cheaper than EVs from BMW, Mercedes and Tesla, does not compete in terms of luxury features, design and innovative technology.
That puts the VW E-Golf in the group of all-electric five-seat compacts that includes the Nissan LEAF and Ford Focus Electric. The main distinguishing factors between those three vehicles are design—which vehicle is most attractive in your eyes—and the level of commitment from the different automakers. Nissan is all-in, with domestic LEAF production and availability in all 50 states. Ford is on the fence in terms of pure electrics, but is indicating support of plug-in hybrids. And Volkswagen, while claiming that it wants the industry’s lead position in terms of electrifying the automobile, has not yet backed that goal with big production and wide distribution of battery-powered plug-in cars.

Purchase Process