Volkswagen's E-Motor: the E-Up!
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The Volkswagen E-Up! concept continues the styling
themes developed for the Up! concepts from 2007.
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Volkswagen
17th September, 2009
Volkswagen is presenting a pioneering fleet of new sustainable
automobiles at the 63rd Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) – updating the potential look of the future. The range of
Frankfurt premieres extends from the world’s most fuel-efficient production passenger car (BlueMotion) to hybrid
technology and an electric car developed from the ground up – the E-Up! that is being presented in a world
premiere in Germany.
E-Motor plus TDI and TSI shape the future
Altogether, these Volkswagens are revising milestones on the timeline between present and future. “One of
the basic milestones on this timeline,” says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of
Management of the Volkswagen Group, “is the mass produced electric car. Yet, to be a genuine success such an
electric car must be affordable to a broad customer base and must be uncompromisingly practical in every day
driving. Only then, in high volumes, and ideally on all continents, can one truly speak of the beginning of the
electric age in automobiles and a perceptible reduction of their environmental impact.”
The Group chief continues: “Nonetheless, until the production numbers of a purely electric car approach
the success curve of a Polo, its schedule will indicate the year 2020 at the earliest. That is why our highly
efficient TDI and TSI engines are the most important waypoints of the present. They will continue to be a
dominant force for decades. And they are what allow us to make the step-by-step transition to the future. Cars
with pure petrol and diesel engines – which in the foreseeable future will continue to be unbeatable for mid-to
long-range distances – will be supplemented by cars like the E-Up! in upcoming years, especially in the city.
And that will happen starting in 2013. The concept car now being presented in Frankfurt very realistically
shows how we envision such a Volkswagen with pure electric drive – technically, visually and with regard to a
practical size.”
The zero-emissions concept car designed under the leadership of Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board
of Management, Volkswagen Brand, and Head of the Development business area, is based on modules of the New
Small Family anticipated in the year 2011, but at a length of 3.19 metres it is even more compact. It also
offers an innovative 3+1 seating concept. In its styling, the powerful and clearly drawn lines of the E-Up!
body follow the new Volkswagen “design DNA” par excellence. That is because never before has an ultra-compact
vehicle – which does not aim to be retro but forges new paths instead – brought such appealing, timeless,
class-independent and dynamic qualities to light. Inside, the smallest Volkswagen ever also astonishes with
its impressive space utilisation.
Drive unit – battery and integral drive
The 135 km/h fast 3+1 seater is driven by an electric motor with a peak power output of 60 kW (continuous
power: 40 kW). The motor of the front-wheel drive car, which is mounted in front, develops a maximum torque of
210 Newton-metres right from rest. The driver activates forward or reverse gear via a rotary knob in the
centre console. The fact that the E-Up! concept will also offer driving enjoyment is demonstrated by a look at
the car’s classic 0 to 100-km/h sprint time: 11.3 seconds. The E-Up! develops even greater responsiveness in
the intermediate sprint from 0 to 50 km/h in city driving: 3.5 seconds. This dynamic performance is based first
on the electric motor’s excellent torque characteristic and second on the low kerb weight of the E-Up!, which
is just 1,085 kilogrammes.
Lithium-ion battery: The car’s low weight is quite astounding, given the fact that 240 kilogrammes
are taken up by the lithium-ion battery. The implemented battery’s energy capacity of 18 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
enables driving distances of up to 130 kilometres, depending on driving style – enough for the city and the
drives of most commuters. The Volkswagen E-Up! will be “refueled” in the garage at home, in a parking
structure or on the road at one of the future municipal recharging stations that will be enabled by chip
card. Depending on the available charging infrastructure and the battery’s momentary charge state, the
storage battery could be charged to up to 80 per cent of its total capacity within an hour.
If the batteries are recharged in a home garage, for example, by plugging it into a 230-Volt household
outlet, this would take a maximum of five hours. Generally, off-peak night-time electric rates are inexpensive.
So refueled at night the E-Up! could be driven 100 kilometres for just two Euros in electricity costs (about
14 Euro cents/kWh). The batteries themselves are housed in the underbody of the E-Up! To optimally distribute
the weight of the battery system, it is housed in a special, crash-protected tray in the underbody frame. Air
cooling ensures a constant heat balance within the batteries. The fans and heat exchangers needed for this
are housed in the front section of the underbody.
Integral drive: The teams of Concept Development (headed by Ralf-Gerhard Willner) and Engine
Development (headed by Dr. Jens Hadler) integrated all important drive assemblies and auxiliary assemblies in
the engine compartment at the front end. The design of an integrated form of the electric drive made a key
contribution toward reducing weight and space requirements for the drive unit. Background: All components
important to the powertrain are unified in compact form in the so-called integral drive. In this unit, the
electric motor, together with the transmission and differential, form the centrepiece of this drive. Energy is
supplied via a high-power pulse-control inverter, which is combined with the 12 Volt electrical system DC/DC
converter and the charger to form the compact integral drive. At 140 kilogrammes, the integral drive is also
very lightweight. To summarise its advantages: low space requirement, ideal acoustic comfort, high torque and
power development and strong driving performance in the city. So the system fulfils the requirements of an
innovative electric drive in a nearly ideal way.
Styling
The E-Up! Concept emphatically demonstrates that emission-free Volkswagens will be anything but lacking in
emotion. Responsible for this, once again, is the team led by Group Chief Designer Walter de Silva. Together
with Klaus Bischoff (Chief Designer, Volkswagen Brand) and Flavio Manzoni (Head of Creative Design, Volkswagen
Group), he developed a layout for the VW E-Up! that reflects the visual impact of the future New Small Family.
The Volkswagen E-Up! bears a resemblance to previously presented concept vehicles of this new model series –
the
Up!
(city specialist),
Space-Up!
(microvan) and
Space-Up Blue!
(fuel cell powered van) – it represents a design stage that reflects the future production car even more
closely.
“The E-Up!”, says Klaus Bischoff, “is characterised by a reduced, very clear and yet highly
emotional design.” And that is certainly no coincidence. The car’s lines consistently follow Volkswagen’s
new era “design DNA” that was developed by de Silva, Bischoff and Manzoni. Its key stylistic traits:
Simplicity, purity, durability and perfection of its technologies and quality. Bischoff: “The new concept
is therefore very much in harmony with its stylistic ‘siblings’ of the New Small Family, the Roadster
BlueSport and the new Polo.” Dimensions of the Volkswagen E-Up! are 3.19 metres (length) x 1.64 metres
(width) x 1.47 metres (height). Its wheelbase is 2.19 metres.
Front end: Although the VW E-Up! styling was developed from the Up! concept, the electric car
differs from conventionally powered models in the new model series. Consider the front end: It fits in
perfectly with the brand’s new 'family' face, yet at the same time it refers back to one of the greatest
icons in automotive history in the area of the engine bonnet: the Beetle. Nonetheless, the Volkswagen E-Up!
does not reveal the slightest hint of retro styling; instead, designers developed new and unmistakable
styling tools that would carry the small Volkswagen far into the future.
Fitting in with this image are the headlights with their facet-like lenses – cut like diamonds – that
extend over the entire width of the lens cover. Another interesting detail: the fog lights. At first glance
they can hardly be recognised as such. The designers have configured them as C-shaped, chrome-trimmed elements
in the headlight housings. Also style-defining is the black line running in a circular pattern in the bumper –
a typical characteristic of the New Small Family. “In the interplay of all elements, the bumper, headlights
and engine bonnet,” explains Klaus Bischoff, “the E-Up! really appears to smile. And that is how it
should be.” Conspicuous: There are hardly any openings at the front end, since there is no need for
separate cooling of the drive unit.
The VW logo on the V-shaped engine bonnet of the E-Up! is more than just an homage to the Beetle. Hidden
behind the folding logo is the integrated port for charging the batteries. The advantage of positioning the
plug port here is that it makes it easier to recharge the VW E-Up! from stations on either the left or right
sides of the street or directly in front of the car.
Side profile: “In keeping with Volkswagen’s “design DNA” the side sections also exhibit a high
level of stylistic purity, following the Bauhaus principle created in the 1920s in Germany that ‘less is
more’,” says Flavio Manzoni. This car’s visual identity is very intentionally provided by just a few
graphic elements that blend together to form a new unit in the classic Bauhaus approach to creative art and
innovative technology. These defining elements of the Volkswagen E-Up! side profile include its side glass
and shoulder styling line above the door handles known as the tornado line. The side profile styling is
further defined by the car’s short body overhangs, the confident outward shaping of the wheel housings and
unique C-pillar. Flavio Manzoni explains the special presence of the C-pillar: “Visually, the vertically
aligned C-pillar is positioned above the rear wheel, which conveys a feeling of balance and solidity. These
properties are indispensable for a Volkswagen. Last but not least, the prominent and powerful wheel styling
gives the car a perfect ‘demeanour’”.
Rear end: The basic graphic forms of the tailgate and rear bumper follow those of the very first
Volkswagen Up! concept car. However, the completely glazed tailgate now exhibits significantly larger
taillights in dark smoked glass look. Running through the taillights is a line trimmed in chrome that extends
across the tailgate. The circular chrome line unites the two taillights in a vertical direction. These
accents are also reflected in the matching graphic element of the front and rear bumpers.
Solar roof: The roof of the VW E-Up! concept is equipped with solar cells over an area measuring
1.4 square metres. This area – between the rear part of the roof edge spoiler and the front windscreen – can
be enlarged to 1.7 square metres in total by folding down the sun visors that are also equipped with solar
cells. The solar cells continuously supply energy to the car’s electrical system, and while the vehicle is
parked they help to cool the interior by supplying energy to the car’s ventilation system.
Interior I – Instruments and controls
Flavio Manzoni: “The interior was designed in complete harmony with the car’s exterior styling, and it
exhibits a similar aesthetic with a technical-purist influence.” To improve the electric car’s energy
economy by avoiding unnecessary loads, actuators such as mirror adjustment and window lifts were designed to
be manually operated. Nonetheless, the highly innovative VW E-Up! concept makes its appearance with an
impressive array of future generation high-tech displays and controls. They are all quite self-explanatory,
and the car’s controls are intuitive, making driving and life with this Volkswagen as simple and stress-free
as possible.
HMI: The concept car has a touch-screen based HMI (Human Machine Interface) with intelligent E-Up!
specific indicators and assistance functions. During navigation, the system continually monitors the
momentary load state of the batteries, for example, as well as activated energy consumers such as lights
and air conditioner, momentary traffic data, elevation profiles of potential routes and the locations of
available charging stations. The driver can display these “filling stations” at any time; available charging
stations may be reserved within a defined reservation time period.
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Self-Catering Holiday
Accommodation in
Denmark, WA
..... more
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The charging process can also be precisely planned to the minute via the HMI. This lets users charge the
Volkswagen E-Up! during a specific time period in which electricity is available at special low rates. The
charging process can be activated at any time via an intuitively operated application installed on an
iPhone or similar mobile device, even from outside of the vehicle. Even more: From the application users
can query the momentary charge status and vehicle location (the latter via map display) or simply check
whether the car is locked. Moreover, to preserve vehicle battery power the programme lets users
pre-condition the E-Up! interior. This involves cooling or heating the car’s interior as long as the car is
still connected to the charging station and is drawing its electrical power from the electrical grid.
Interior II – 3 + 1 seating concept
The generous space implemented over a total vehicle area of just 5.1 square metres is absolutely
astounding. Several factors are responsible for this clever packaging. First, there is the reduced size of
the instrument panel, which was shifted further forward than usual toward the engine compartment. This was
enabled, among other things, by optimising the components within the instrument panel. Second, the small
Volkswagen is a 3+1 seater. This means that the front passenger seat is located 50 millimetres forward,
thanks to the instruments being shifted further forward. This layout increases leg room in the rear behind
the front passenger tremendously. As a result, two adults can sit comfortably on the passenger’s side.
Stepping into the vehicle is also simplified by an Easy-Entry feature, which allows the front passenger’s
seat to be pushed up to 270 millimetres away from the rear bench. There is less leg room behind the
“normally” positioned driver’s seat; the space here was designed as a spare seat.
Additional freedom of movement is provided to rear passengers by lowering the centre tunnel in front of
the rear bench seat; it serves as an additional footrest. This enables use of an electric handbrake in the
style of the Passat, so that no lever mechanism obstructs the footwell.
Cargo area: The clever packaging solutions do not end there: To optimise comfort in the rear,
the rear seat backrest is split 40/60. When the backrest on the driver’s seat is folded down (40 per cent
section), stowage capacity is increased from 85 to 180 litres (with loading to the upper edge of the front
seat backrest). This stowage space can be enclosed by a load barrier that folds down out from the folded
backrest. When the entire rear seating backrest is folded down, a stowage capacity of 320 litres is
provided. It is even 520 litres when loaded to the roofliner. To transport long objects, the front
passenger’s backrest can also be folded to a pass-through position. In this configuration, the VW E-Up!
concept can handle objects up to two metres in length.
This high degree of variability will also certainly characterise the affordable production version of
an Up! powered by an electric motor. That is because electric cars, as Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn insists
and therefore wrote into the specification for this future Volkswagen, must be truly affordable and offer
uncompromising everyday practicality.
Micro-mobility in the city – made by Volkswagen
Volkswagen is comprehensively addressing implementation of this everyday practicality. These efforts
not only encompass the vehicle itself, but the entire environment around the car driver. In the city, for
example, this includes the realisation that after parking the E-Up! people will want to cover shorter
distances without a car – from the job to lunch, to church, another meeting, whatever is on the day’s
schedule. For these shorter trips, the Volkswagen “Micro-mobility in the city” concept team has invented
clever zero-emission microvehicles. The Kickstep, for example, which is an ultra-compact folding scooter
and the electrically powered Microbully, a scooter that also fits easily in the Volkswagen E-Up! load
space. There is also the ped-tric, a folding bike with electric motors built into the wheel hubs that
could also make the trip to the city aboard the VW E-Up! And even the VW_1M, a large electric moped – the
size of a carry-on case when not in use – could be stowed in the E-Up! without needing to fold down the
rear bench seat. Such micro-mobility solutions were designed at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam.
So the Volkswagen E-Up! will be putting many things into motion. In 2013 this will become a reality.
Volkswagen E-Up! concept car - Technical Data
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Dimensions/Running Gear |
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Length |
3,199 mm |
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Width |
1,641 mm |
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Height |
1,468 mm |
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Wheelbase |
2,190 mm |
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Front overhang |
555 mm |
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Rear overhang |
454 mm |
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Front suspension |
McPherson |
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Rear suspension |
Semi-independent |
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Drive |
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Drive type |
Electric motor |
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Power (max./continuous) |
60 kW/40 kW |
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Max. torque |
210 Nm |
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Transmission/Tyres |
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Transmission |
EQ 210 (1-speed variable transmission) |
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Drive type |
Front-wheel drive |
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Tyre size |
185/50 R16 |
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Performance data |
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0-50 km/h |
3.5 s |
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0-100 km/h |
11.3 s |
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Top speed |
135 km/h |
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