LA Preview: Volkswagen to unveil plug-version of the Up! mini
After unveiling their new Volkswagen up! mini-car at the Frankfurt Motor Show last month, VW is set to show two more variants in the next month and a half. The Tokyo Motor Show at the end of October should see a small five door mini-van based on the up! which would be a spiritual successor to the old Micro-Bus. On this continent we should be getting a plug-in version of the car at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. It's not know at this point if this will be a straight battery electric car or a hybrid, but the former is far more likely because of the small size. An electric motor could be easily packaged in place of the rear engine and a compact lithium ion battery pack could go alongside it. Range would probably be very limited by the small battery size but we'll see soon enough.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave B 10:48AM (10/01/2007)
Is it me or are the bigger manufacturers getting more serious about electric? Go VW! An all electric commuter would be a nice addition to my Passat TDI.
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tim 10:52AM (10/01/2007)
All these manufacturers now talking about EVs & PHEVs leads me to believe that they are extremely confident that the battery "issues" have been solved.
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Tony Belding 5:46PM (10/01/2007)
I was just observing yesterday how similar the Mitsubishi MiEV and the Th!nk City look. . . And now VW is coming up with another very similar car?
I sense a trend.
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John Metcalf 12:30PM (10/01/2007)
Yummy.
Agree with you Dave B. An all electric Up! combined with a TDI for long distances would be a great combination for my two car family.
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steven 12:42PM (10/01/2007)
@2: Keep in mind how car companies use these auto shows and the cars they debut. Although there are differences of opinion on what constitutes a prototype, show car, and the rest, just bringing a new car to a show in no way ensures that it is even remotely production ready. Not necessarily in this case, but some auto show debuts are nothing more that finely sculpted blocks with wheels hanging off. Many times with with no working engine/motor, no interiors, no go! Not taking anything away from VW or others, but once the cars are actually available for public order or in the showrooms for sale, then we will be able to conclude whether or not the battery "issues" have been solved. Don't forget how GM's product(s), even when show to be drivable, are criticized as being nothing more than a publicity stunt.
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Kardax 1:18PM (10/01/2007)
I seriously doubt any major automotive manufacturer is going to release a pure EV in the U.S. anytime soon. None of them are comfortable with the range limitation.
More and more hybrids are coming, for sure, but not pure battery electric vehicles.
I also agree with steven... concept cars show up all the time but it's rare for a truly "forward-thinking" design to go on sale.
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Phil L. 3:44PM (10/01/2007)
It's one thing to claim that battery "issues" have been solved. It's quite another to sell something to a real consumer who uses it in an inconsistent world - and support an industry-standard warranty on that product. A pricey battery with high failure rates that show up just before the warranty period ends is scary scenario that makes product managers stay awake at night. This helps explain why the Prius is so conservative about battery discharge - and why Toyota has approached new battery technology and PHEV upgrades so conservatively.
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