Volkswagen unveils its second generation EV
Volkswagen has unveiled its second electric vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Compared to its predecessor, the 2017 e-Golf offers more power, more features and greater range. The company reports 2017 e-Golf has a real-world range of 125 miles on a single charge—a range extension of around 50%, and it can be charged to 80% capacity within an hour.

The new Volkswagen e-Golf has been unveiled in a world premiere at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Compared to its predecessor, the new zero-emission vehicle offers more power, longer range and more features (fully digital instruments and world’s first electric car with gesture control).

Volkswagen, which last week unveiled a significant update of the Golf in Europe, says the e-Golf will now cover up to 125 miles or more in everyday driving on one battery charge – depending on driving style and the use of air conditioning. This represents a range extension of around 50%.

Its driving range in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) is up to 187 miles (300km). In the USA, the “estimated real- world driving range” was measured as 125 miles (EPA).

The 2017 e-Golf uses a new lithium-ion battery whose energy capacity has been increased from 24.2 kWh to 35.8 kWh.

It can be charged to 80% capacity within an hour at a CCS charging station (DC, 40 kW).

When charged overnight or during the work day from a wallbox (AC,7.2 kW), the battery is ready to go again with 100% capacity in less than six hours.

The electric motor now develops 100 kW, which is 15 kW more power than the first version of the e-Golf. At the same time, the maximum torque of the electric motor has been boosted from 270 Nm to 290 Nm.

Volkswagen is also extending the range of assistance systems for the e-Golf in the 2017 model year.

New available systems are Traffic Jam Assist (semi-autonomous driving up to 40mph), pedestrian monitoring for Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Emergency Assist (automatic stopping function in case of medical emergency of the driver).