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XL1 dive and drive: Volkswagen aggressively optimizes for efficiency in its sleek diesel plug-in hybrid

Green Car Congress

The XL1 is aggressively optimized for efficiency in all areas of its design and technology—from materials (carbon fiber reinforced polymer monocoque); to powertrain (0.8L two-cylinder diesel, 20 kW electric motor and 5.5 two-cylinder diesel, 20 kW electric motor and 5.5 Materials and weight.

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Rav4 EV

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

This car has half the power, substantially more battery capacity, and similar range to the EV1. This is the car that we take on family trips, and it is also the daily commute car now that the EV1 has been returned to GM. The Rav charges slower, but more consistently than the EV1. I’m in this deep now.

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