Volkswagen runs XL1 and e-up! at Silvretta E-Car Rally
05 July 2013
Volkswagen is running the diesel plug-in hybrid XL1 (earlier post) and its e-up! battery electric vehicle (earlier post) at this year’s Silvretta E-Car Rally in Austria.
The new e-up! is taking part in the Silvretta E-Car Rally in the Austrian Montafon region for the first time. With its Alpine route profile, the rally is both a test of reliability and highly demanding, as the challenge is to recover large amounts of the power used on the long uphill climbs through battery regeneration on the subsequent downhill sections.
The e-up! is powered by an electric motor that delivers a maximum output of 60 kW (80 hp). It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 12.4 seconds and achieves a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). With its 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery it has a range on the NEDC of up to 160 kilometers (99 miles).
The e-up! can be charged with 2.3 kW plugged into any standard 230V socket, with 3.6 kW via a home-installed wall box or with up to 40 kW plugged into a DC fast-charging station via the optional CSS (combined charging system). In the latter case, the battery is 80% charged in less than 30 minutes.
The entry-level price of the e-up! in Germany as a base model inclusive of battery is €26,900 (US$34,450). This autumn at the IAA (International Motor Show) in Frankfurt, Volkswagen will announce further details on how the vehicle is to be marketed, including, for example, leasing and flexible car hire packages.
That is the first price I have seen for the E-Up!
To give US folk an idea of what this price means, less the VAT which is not of course payable in the US it comes to around $27,613, so the equivalent price for the US including the subsidy for those eligible is around $20k.
The fly in that ointment is that it is not going to the US.
I think this is a pretty good price, although for instance here in the UK it is about twice the price of the petrol Up.
Posted by: Davemart | 05 July 2013 at 08:14 AM
The nice thing about this Up is that the price can be compared to gas version and the dual-fuel gas/natural gas version:
EV version EUR 26.900
Gas version EUR 9.900
Dual-fuel version EUR 12.900
I am less optimistic about EVs for small cars. It does not make sense for most and it will take decades for the price to be able to compete with gas versions. Tesla is right about targeting the high end market. This is where EVs makes the most sense today and for this reason I expect the Model S to outsell the EV Up for years to come.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 05 July 2013 at 01:07 PM
There's another "E-Car Rally" that goes across 1875 miles of the Australian Outback. It's for SOLAR powered cars.
http://www.worldsolarchallenge.org/
Yes, I know it's a gimmick but the next race will include a four seater;
http://inhabitat.com/stella-is-the-worlds-first-solar-powered-family-car/
Posted by: ai_vin | 05 July 2013 at 01:11 PM
@Henrik:
Toyota to much abuse from those ideologically committed to battery cars changed their mind about producing the IQ EV in volume as they could not make the numbers work.
I don't think that the figures are too bad, but they are not good either.
Including the subsidy I reckon that here in the UK outside of London with its congestion charge then it would take maybe 80,000 miles or so to break even.
That is not terribly attractive, but for a 15k a year or so driver that is only around 5 or 6 years.
I reckon VW have likely done a proper job on the battery, and longevity should be fine.
The subsidy won't last forever, but hopefully costs might drop to about compensate for that.
The big plus of course is the zero pollution at point of use, and Europe suffers a dreadful toll from air pollution:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jul/04/europe-tackle-air-pollution-un
PHEV is perhaps more hopeful for relatively short term competitiveness.
The VW Golf PHEV is to follow, with scads of other models after that from VW and Audi.
Posted by: Davemart | 05 July 2013 at 01:48 PM
I just looked up the price in Germany on Nissan leaf.
Nissan Leaf EUR 23.800.
So VW is clearly pricing the Up to much to make any sense against the competition as well. The Leaf is a much better buy than the EV Up in all aspects.
@Davemart
The subsidies is limited to a certain number of cars sold per manufacture. Once that number is reached the subsidy ends. I think that once Nissan (or any other car maker) has sold 200,000 EVs in the US the subsidy ends.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 06 July 2013 at 12:41 AM
@henrik.
Since you don't give a link, it is entirely unclear whether the price you quote for the Leaf in Germany includes VAT or is ex VAT.
Since I don't speak German I am not going to go to Nissan gmbh to find out.
Perhaps you would have a look on your link and find out, and also provide the reference.
Thanks.
At the present rate of sales it will be quite a while before Nissan or anyone else hit the 200,000 mark.
Posted by: Davemart | 06 July 2013 at 09:01 AM
http://www.nissan.de/DE/de/vehicle/electric-vehicles/leaf.html
I am pretty sure they include VAT. I agree it will take several years before Nissan reach 200k. That is really disappointing as they can produce 150.000 units per year in the US factory alone. Nissan must sell at least 10k per month. I think they loose money right now.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 06 July 2013 at 09:14 AM
@henrik:
Yep, the price you have quoted is ex battery.
the cheapest with a battery is Euros 29,690
http://www.nissan.de/DE/de/vehicle/electric-vehicles/leaf/prices-and-equipment/prices-and-specifications.html
I still don't know if that includes VAT, but I suppose I am not sure if the VW Up price does either
Posted by: Davemart | 06 July 2013 at 09:24 AM
Checking on the UK site and converting it, including VAT but excluding our £5,000 subsidy, then the £25,990 for the cheapest Leaf including the battery is about 30,187 Euros, so the price would be the Euros 29,690 including battery that I quoted, and including VAT.
So you are talking 3,100 Euros more for the Leaf than the smaller Up.
OTOH I have a lot more confidence in the battery and cooling system in the Up, so if I were buying that would be my choice.
I suspect most will lease both the Leaf and the E-Up, including the battery, so that the high upfront cost does not hit, but the savings in petrol can show a profit from day one, providing of course that the use profile is suitable.
Under those circumstances the durability of the battery is not so vital, although of course you have to be careful that you don't go outside of the usage agreement of the battery, for instance by leaving it in the heat.
I would still prefer the Up as the more robust solution, certainly if I were in southern Europe and heat was likely to be a factor.
Posted by: Davemart | 06 July 2013 at 11:04 AM
Davemart,
Prices in the EU always include VAT, because they are required to do so by law. Only strict business-to-business sale may quote prices without VAT.
It really sucks that prices are without tax in the US. Not least because of the variations in tax. It is so much easier for the store computer to add the tax than calculating it yourself on the fly.
What do I care, what the price is without tax?!? I have to pay it regardless!
Posted by: Thomas Pedersen | 08 July 2013 at 05:21 AM