VW unveils all-electric research car

Volkswagen’s research group has unveiled an all-electric research car, capable of over 400 kilometres range.
It’s a first for VW’s EVs, and new mobile charging robots are presented as a possible charging solution for the vehicle, reports Electrek.

The Golf-based vehicle is a test bed for VW’s upcoming electric vehicle programmes, like the ID concepts. “Innovations safeguard the future of our company and they are the focus of our attention,” research head Axel Heinrich says.

“This provides an insight into the next generation of automobiles for efficient long-distance mobility with a range of more than 400 kilometres. The lightweight architecture has been designed for maximum crash safety including the battery. The battery is based on advanced lithium-ion cells and the efficiency of the electric motor has been optimised.”

Volkswagen is using the platform to test EV related technologies, with one of the most interesting a “mobile robot charger”.

“In future, rapid charging of the electric vehicle will be extremely convenient,” Heinrich says. “Mobile robots will connect up the automobile for recharging. Group Research is therefore working on charging robot concepts for underground garages and multi-storey car parks. The GenE research vehicle is charged by the robot.”