2009 Frankfort Motor Show: Volkswagon Reveals Zero-emmission concept, E-Up!

Volkswagon has given the spectators at the 2009 Frankfort Motor show something rather intirguing t o take in. A completely new zero-emissions vehicle called the E-Up!, giving viewers reason to feel a bit more comfortable lounging in their patio chairs.

It is powered by an electric motor with the capability of delivering a peak of 81 PS (54 PS constant) and 154 lbs/ft of torque channelling drive through the front wheels, the E-Up! can accelerate to 62 mph in 11.3 seconds before reaching a top speed of 84 mph.

The E-Up! weighs just 1,085 kg. This figure includes the lithium-ion batteries powering the vehicle accounting for 240 kg of this total. Pretty amazing weight total considering that the batteries alone account for over 20% of the total weight.

The batteries have a capacity of 18 kWh which allows a theoretical range of over 80 miles. Through the use of proposed public charging stations 80 per cent of the vehicle’s battery capacity can be made available within an hour. Using a 230-volt domestic system would require a charging time of around five hours. This process is aided by a series of solar panels measuring 1.4 square metres mounted on the roof.

On unveiling the E-Up! Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group said: ‘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 coming years. And that will happen starting in 2013. The concept now being presented in Frankfurt very realistically shows how we envision such a Volkswagen with pure electric drive technology, visually and in terms of size.’