Cars GlobalMag October 2013

torque to 220 Nm. In parallel, the electronics reduce
the output of the air conditioning system and
modify the response curve of the accelerator pedal.
The e-Golf can now reach speeds of up to 115 km/h
(in ‘Normal’ mode: 140 km/h) and accelerate from
0 to 100 km/h in 13.1 seconds (in ‘Normal’ mode:
10.4 seconds). In ‘Eco+’ mode the electronics limit
the power output to 55 kW and the starting torque
to 175 Nm. At the same time the accelerator pedal
response curve becomes even flatter and the air
conditioning is switched off. The e-Golf now reaches
a top speed of 90 km/h and accelerates at a
correspondingly slower rate. Nevertheless, via kickdown
– in ‘Eco’ and ‘Eco+’ mode – drivers can still
obtain full power, maximum torque and a top speed
of 140 km/h1.
In addition to the driving mode function, the range can
also be influenced using the regenerative braking system.
Level ‘D1’ regenerates energy and slows down
the car the least, while level ‘B’ has the strongest effect.
At levels ‘D2’, ‘D3’ and ‘B’, the deceleration via
regenerative braking is so strong that in this case the
brake lights automatically come on. However, if the
battery is fully charged, no energy regeneration takes
place. In this case, the braking power also reduces,
which the driver can feel intuitively.
By developing very specific measures such as
reducing the volume of cooling air (via a radiator
shutter and partially enclosed radiator grille), new
underbody panelling, modification of the tail with a
rear spoiler and C-pillar air guides, and by developing
new aerodynamic wheels (largely closing off
the wheel openings flush with the car’s exterior),
Volkswagen was able to lower the Golf’s air drag.
Whereas on the standard Golf air drag is 0.686 m²,
the company was able to reduce this to 0.615 m²
on the e-Golf, thus improving it by 10 per cent. Similarly,
the cD value was improved to 0.281.
Volkswagen was also able to achieve another positive
effect on energy consumption and range
through optimisation of the tyres (205/55 R16 91
Q). Reducing the rolling resistance coefficient from
7.2 per 1,000 (Golf BlueMotion) to 6.5 per 1,000
for the e-Golf (likewise an improvement of 10 per
cent) also improves the range.