The growing popularity of electric cars is not surprising when you experience what zero-emissions do for a small car. However, the Volkswagen e-Up also feels bigger in its class in terms of price. Primarily, e-Up is intended for those who drive a lot in the city, for which it is perfectly suited. Thanks to its small external dimensions, the car is as agile as before, and the immediate torque of the electric motor makes it really much easier to stick around in traffic.
At 1235 kg, the compact Volkswagen e-up is relatively light for an EV. Combined with its electric powertrain, this results in the e-up being agile, nippy, and fun. With the MQB-based designs and processes in place, Volkswagen is confident that it can respond appropriately with whichever powertrain technologies become in demand.
Interior Design of Volkswagen e-Up
There’s more space inside the city car than you might imagine, for the four occupants, and also for luggage in the boot. Volkswagen has even found space at the back of the boot for a compartment for the charging cables, which helps to reduce clutter in the main compartment of the boot. The windows are hinged at the front and they can be opened at the rear by pushing them outwards. This electric car has a reasonably standard dashboard. You can expect all of the typical dials found in electric vehicles these days, such as a power meter that lets you know how much you are using the car’s accelerator pedal, plus a handy USB socket for your smart device. All new e-Up Volkswagen cars can be configured with extra touches here and there, however, such as a rear roof spoiler, a safety kit, a bicycle holder, a universal traffic recorder system, and a luggage compartment liner.
Exterior Design of Volkswagen e-Up
The e-Up looks just like a conventional Up from the outside. The 2019 edition of the car was given a slightly more rounded nose shape. The current model of the Volkswagen e-Up has multiple external features, including a honeycomb air intake style for the grilles, sports bumpers, and alloy wheels. The e-up takes the form of a 10.5-foot minicar that seats four-three in front and one in back. The VW logo on the V-shaped engine bonnet of the e-up is more than just an homage to the Beetle. Hidden behind the folding logo is the integrated port for charging the batteries.
Engine & Battery of Volkswagen e-Up
With 82 PS (60 kW) maximum output and 210 Nm of torque, the new e-up clearly refutes the misconception that electric vehicles are not capable of achieving top performance. And the figures continue to impress, with the electric motor achieving a top speed of 80mph, where the law permits and accelerating from 0-100 km/hr in just 12.4 seconds. The previous-generation Volkswagen e-up featured an 18.7 kWh battery. The new e-up has a 32.3 kWh lithium-ion battery. From the home charging station, the maximum charging capacity is 7.2 kilowatts, which, according to the manufacturer, charges the battery from zero to full in about five and a half hours. Charging from the Suko plug is 2.3 kilowatts, which takes 16 hours and three quarters to fully charge the battery.
Recuperation is the recovery of energy usually lost when braking. On the e-up, this is achieved by changing the drive motor to generator operation and feeding the resulting current into the vehicle battery, where it is saved for later use. e-up drivers can choose from four different, easy-to-activate recuperation modes, ranging from maximum delay, achieving optimum brake energy recovery, to minimal delay, achieving less recovery. There are three different driving modes: Normal, Eco and Eco+. You can also choose to have more brake regeneration by selecting B rather than D using the gear selector.
Safety Features of Volkswagen e-Up
In the e-Up, Volkswagen provides numerous car passenger protection systems as standard. Like other electric cars, its protection system reviews depend on its front airbags for both the driver and the front passenger. The e-Up offers more behind the wheel than this, however. The electric car also comes with an airbag cut-off switch for front fitted child seats and an Isofix capability in the rear, for instance. In the e-Up, Volkswagen has a seatbelt reminder system included but no pedestrian impact warning device. Another most notable are the C-shaped daytime running lights, which are wrapped around the black strip that sits below the main headlights.
Price of Volkswagen e-Up
With a starting price of ₹ 21 lakhs, it remains one of the most affordable new EVs on the market but is priced slightly higher than the entry-level Fiat 500 electric. The vehicle is assembled in Braunschweig and incorporates Volkswagen’s energy and battery management control logic. One of the mantras of the Volkswagen Group surrounding the benefits of its modular assembly toolkits is that they enable the streamlined production of a variety of vehicles using common components on the same line.
Viewed as an EV entity, the e-up works well. It will cost you a lot less than many other small electric vehicles, though you’ll have to accept that it’s slightly smaller and won’t go as far as some rivals on each battery charge.
