Earlier this year, Diess told VW engineers to create the ‘Volkswagen for the digital age’, and although it’s still in concept form, it has finally come to fruition. However, from what we gather, it’s going to take the center stage off the electrification game. A top Volkswagen exec touted a new electric vehicle (EV) planned for the 2018-2019 model year with a 300-mile range.
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The promise of pricing competitive with petroleum-powered versions of similar cars in the VW lineup will likely need to be met by component cost control and production volume. For electric vehicles with large batteries and substantial range, the recharging time is the selling point.
The new electric auto is part of the automaker’s “Together – Strategy 2025”, marking its ambition to have 20 electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the lineup by 2020. That speed needs an 800 volt charging rate, that is something Porsche is actively seeking to develop into charging facilities.
It’s unlikely that a 2019 VW all-electric will be able to take advantage of this kind of charging tech widely, given the charging infrastructure changed required, but it would still be a big statement from the car-maker to offer the spec in a shipping auto.
In addition to the speedy charging capability, VW also says they’re aiming to field a vehicle that actually costs less than traditional fuel-burning cars.
As Volkswagen works towards repairing its reputation following the “dieselgate” emissions scandal, the German auto manufacturer seems to be going all-in on fully electric cars.
There were no further detail reveals by Diess on the topic of this new EV.
Speaking to German magazine WirtschaftWoche (Industry and Economy Week), Chairman, Herbert Diess said the auto would have the outside dimensions of the Golf, pictured above, but offer the larger Passat’s interior space.
With autonomous vehicle and electric auto development both promising huge advances in the next 5 to 10 years, all major auto companies will see more changes than in any previous period. It was first introduced on the BUDD-e minivan concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this year.
Volkswagen’s 2019 Electric Car is a part of the German automaker’s pledge “Together -Strategy 2025” which aims to deliver 20 electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles by the end of 2020.
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The plan was is a response to the VW emissions scandal.
