Autocar is out with a new report today claiming inside information on Volkswagen’s first electric car to be built on the new MEB platform. MEB is the platform unveiled at CES last month and showcased in the company’s microbus concept: BUDD-e.
The platform will allow VW to bring to market electric vehicles made to be electric from the ground up. It is based on the now familiar concept of a large battery pack extending flat between the axles.
Volkswagen has apparently green-lighted the BUDD-e, or at least a version of the BUDD-e, for development into volume production, but the vehicle is not expected to hit the market before 2020. Autocar says VW aims to bring to market another electric vehicle on the same platform before the microbus, around 2019, and it will be closer in size to the automaker’s flagship Golf.
Yesterday we wrote about VW planning a longer range version (186 miles) of the all-electric e-Golf, but the vehicle Autocar is talking about would be an entirely new model understood to be around 4400mm in length compared to the Golf’s 4255mm.
The publication claimed the new model’s range will exceed 311 miles (500 km) on a single charge, though that’s likely based on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC), which is known to be less restrictive than the EPA standard. For example, Tesla’s Model S 85D, which is equipped with a 85 kWh battery pack, gets 270 EPA-rated miles, but 330-NEDC rated miles. “Real-world” range is closer to the EPA ratings.
Autocar also writes that Volkswagen plans to introduce cutting-edge connectivity and infotainment systems in the new vehicle. You can read the full report on their website.
Featured Image: 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTE Sport Concept
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Im am LOVING the scramble by every automaker to make electrics. Some even calling them “Tesla killers” (lol)
Shows how inept they are at being innovative. And how they are basically owned by oil companies.
Let the good times roll.
Good to see the mainstream makers finally pushing out plans for EVs with proper range…. But I don’t see them producing them in significant volumes. Where would they get the batteries? (Unless they buy them off Tesla, of course …. )
Finally, finally VW is getting it….Coming from the DIESEL “dark-ages” – VW desperately need to be on the right side of history. GO FULLY ELECTRIC and do what they did best – make beautiful cars for the masses…..(TESLA will serve the upper class )