Volkswagen is preparing the Spanish launch of the e-up!

Volkswagen is launching the new e-up! in Spain, the first 100% electric vehicle the brand builds in series. The greenest version of this urban specialist will drive through Madrid’s most iconic streets between 12 and 14 November. Following its official debut in Madrid, the e-up! will be one of the main stars of the third edition of EXPOelèctric Fórmula-e in Barcelona.

We previewed a few months ago the price the e-up! will carry, with its launch planned for mid-2014. With 82 CV of power and a top speed of 130 km/h, the e-up! offers a range of up to 160 kilometres, which varies depending on driving style, the load carried and the time of year.

The e-up! weighs 1,139 kg, of which 230 kg corresponds to the lithium-ion battery, which is located under the floor. The powertrain consists of a 60 kW/82 CV electric motor, the lithium-ion battery integrated between the axles (under the floor of the vehicle) and the electronics. The electric motor’s drive force is transmitted to the front wheels through a single-speed gearbox.

Apart from operating through driving modes, range of the e-up! can be influenced by using the recuperation function. In this area, the driver has five levels: “D” (recuperation only when braking), “D1”, “D2”, “D3” and “B”. This range of levels means that when the driver lifts off the accelerator, recuperation slows the vehicle more than usual. This function can in many cases replace use of the brake. Deceleration through recuperation is so strong at levels “D2”, “D3” and “B” that the brake lights are automatically activated in these cases.

To charge the battery, up to nine hours of charging are required. However, Volkswagen will offer the Combined Charging System CCS (Combined Charging System) for DC charging. In this case, charging takes place at special stations with a power of up to 40 kW. In this way, the battery reaches 80% of its capacity in just 30 minutes.

Source | Volkswagen