The Volkswagen e-up! Concept Car (2009)

Volkswagen has unveiled an all-new zero-emissions vehicle - the Volkswagen e-up! concept.

Powered by an electric motor capable of delivering a peak of 81 PS (54 PS constant) and 154 lbs ft of torque channelling drive through the front wheels, the Volkswagen e-up! can accelerate to 62 mph in 11.3 seconds before reaching a top speed of 84 mph.

The Volkswagen e-up! weighs just 1,085 kg - a remarkable figure given that the lithium-ion batteries powering the vehicle account for 240 kg of this total.

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.

Housed under the floor of the Volkswagen e-up!, the batteries are protected by a specially designed crash structure and are kept cool by a series of heat exchangers. The entire system, including the electric motor, transmission and differential are all extremely compact to free up as much space inside the car as possible.

Drawing inspiration from the new design direction established by Walter de Silva (Head of Design, Volkswagen Group) on the Volkswagen Golf as well as the Volkswagen up concept from the 2007 Frankfurt Show, the new Volkswagen e-up! evolves the look with a distinctive 'face' and clean, minimalist lines complemented by intricate detailing around the front and rear lights. The Volkswagen e-up! measures just 3,199 mm in length and sits on a 2,190 mm wheelbase with minimal front and rear overhangs.

Despite the diminutive dimensions the Volkswagen e-up! is spacious inside and is capable of carrying three adults plus a child. The 3+1 seating arrangement means two adults can sit on the passenger side of the vehicle with the passenger seat mounted 50 mm further forward than the driver's seat to allow this to be possible. On the driver's side a small space is available for occasional use by adults or children. The total loadspace is 85-litres, rising to 320-litres when the seats are folded.

The innovative approach to the drivetrain and packaging is continued in the design of the interior. To reduce demand on the vehicle's batteries simple mechanisms such as the mirror adjustment and windows are manually operated. These simplistic methods extend to the touchscreen HMI (Human Machine Interface) system which relays critical information to the driver including the amount of charge remaining and offers advice on nearby recharging stations.

On unveiling the Volkswagen 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."