VW Debuts Electric Golf Model in U.S.

Volkswagen AG says the modular transverse matrix platform that carries its new Golf hatchback made it relatively easy to create the e-Golf, an all electric iteration that will hit the American market in November.

The $35,400 car will be offered in California and 10 other states, most of which have adopted California-like sales goals for zero-emission vehicles.

The main modification required to electrify the Golf is to reshape the floorpan to accommodate the car's 700-lb lithium-ion battery, according to VW. Some of that weight is offset by the electric drivetrain, which weighs about 200 lbs less than the conventional engine and transmission it replaces.

Curb weight of the e-Golf is 3,400 lbs, or about 400 lbs more than a conventionally powered base-model Golf.

VW developed its own synchronous, permanent-magnet AC electric motor, single-speed gearbox and control system for the e-Golf The 12,000-rpm motor develops 115 hp and virtually matches the 200 lb-ft of torque developed by the standard car's 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine.

The car's 323-volt battery consists of 264 prismatic cells packaged in 27 modules. VW warrants the battery, which it developed through a joint venture with Panasonic Corp., for eight years or 100,000 miles.

VW says the e-Golf has a real-world range of about 90 miles per charge. The car's battery can be charged in 20 hours with 120-volt household current, four hours with a 240-volt connection and about 30 minutes at a fast-charge direct-current facility.

The electric powertrain offers three increasingly thrifty driver-selected economy modes, which can be overridden by fully depressing the accelerator pedal.