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ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

Volkswagen’s ID. family, which consists of only all-electric models, releases its second which is a SUV. The first of the ID. models was the ID.3, a hatchback launched in 2019, and this new model is designated ID.4. There are known to be at least 7 models in total, with the others currently planned to go into production within the next 3 years.

“As the first global electric car, this model will roll out our modular electric drive matrix platform that has been developed specifically for electric mobility the world over. Volkswagen is thus once again demonstrating its leading role in innovation, technology and quality on the high-volume market,” said Ralf Brandstatter, CEO for the Volkswagen brand.

The ID.4 is Volkswagen’s first fully electrically-driven SUV and has dimensions which put it within the compact SUV class. This is now a highly competitive segment, especially in Europe where SUVs were once disliked as they were considered to be not environment-friendly due to their higher consumption.

No environmental issues
The ID.4, of course, has no such issue and is a zero emissions vehicle with the space and comfort that any buyer will appreciate. Its 77 kWh battery pack powers a 150 kW (equivalent to 204 ps) electric motor that gives a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 160 km/h.

The battery pack is installed below the passenger compartment for a low centre of gravity, while the electric drive motor is positioned at the rear axle, which also helps with grip. In the event that the driver wants to wander off the highway, there’s 21 cm of ground clearance with 21-inch wheels.

We Charge anywhere
Volkswagen is launching on the European market a complete package for convenient, connected and sustainable charging of electric cars under the name ‘We Charge’. This provides recharging at home, around town or on a long journey. The ID.4 can be recharged within 30 minutes with at a DC (direct current) quick-charging station to provide a claimed 320 kms of range. On a full battery pack, the range is claimed to be up to 520 kms.

Sleek exterior
The ID.4’s exterior has a clear, flowing design inspired by nature. Aerodynamic efficiency has been tuned to a low 0.28 Cd, which will reduce the wind resistance that needs to be overcome by the electric motor.

The front and rear lighting units use LEDs (partial at the front) and for the most expensive ID.4 version, there are interactive IQ.Light LED matrix headlights. These feature swivelling lens modules and generate an intelligently controlled main beam for optimised spread. At the rear are new 3D LED taillight clusters with a homogeneous appearance that fully illuminates in an intensive red.

MEB for more space
The 4.58-metre long ID.4 sits on Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) architecture. It divides the space for occupants and technology in a completely new way in favour of passengers. The space available in the cabin is said to be comparable to conventional SUVs in the next category up. Depending on the rear seat backrest’s position, the luggage compartment can have a volume from 543 to 1,575 litres.

The operating concept on the dashboard of this E-SUV, as Volkswagen refers to it, does not depend on physical buttons and switches. There are two displays, one of which diagonally measures up to 12 inches and features touch functionality, as well as a ‘Hello ID’ natural voice control assistant. The new ID.Light – a narrow light strip under the windscreen – intuitively supports drivers.

An augmented reality (AR) head-up display is optionally available to blend a host of displays with reality. Navigation arrows telling drivers to turn off are projected onto the road surface in exactly the right lane. IQ.Drive assist systems help the driver to enjoy safer and more relaxed motoring, while software is part of a completely new architecture and updates can be downloaded ‘over the air’.

Plans for global sale
The ID.4 will be gradually turned into a global model; Volkswagen has plans to produce and sell the E-SUV not only in Europe but also in China and later, in the USA.

Will we see it in Malaysia? Probably not so soon as there are a number of issues which would prevent it from being sold in sufficient numbers. It would be a CBU model and that would push its price up – and it would already be high as it has brand new technology. Malaysians are still not entirely sold on fully electric cars and the recharging network is also limited. While neighbouring countries’ governments are starting to promote EVs, our government is only ‘talking’ about being a hub for ‘energy efficient vehicles’ in the region, but is not doing much to make it attractive for manufacturers to set up here.

2020 Volkswagen ID.3 makes global debut

First look inside the ID.4 – Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV

Volkswagen’s ID family of all-electric vehicles designed from scratch consists of at least seven models, of which two are ready for the market. The first is the ID.3, a hatchback based on the original ID concept shown 4 years ago. Production is underway and order-taking began in July this year, with first deliveries starting in October 2020.

Now attention is being switched to the ID.4, which will be the brand’s first all-electric SUV, to reach the first customers before the end of this year. Like what some other carmakers have been doing, highlights are being revealed prior to the commercial launch (at the end of this month).

Following a description of the aerodynamic exterior, we are now being told about the interior. Having had the opportunity to start from a clean sheet – or perhaps a clean hard disk might be a more appropriate term – the interior designers have been able to provide plenty of space with a purist approach. This has been partly helped by the use of the new MEB platform, developed for electric vehicles.

Traditional SUV elements maintained
While there is much departure from traditional SUVs, some elements are maintained – like the large door openings, commanding all-round view and high seating position. These are what people have been buying SUVs for and would still expect even if the powertrain is entirely different.

The door handles on the ID.4 lie flush with the body and come with electric unlocking. Inside, the cabin area is a generously planned space with the rear seat bench offering as much space as a conventional SUV in the next higher category. There’s also plenty of luggage space and even with the rear seats in use, the available volume is 543 litres.

The front seats are sporty and comfortable, their design and structure bearing the seal of approval by the German Campaign for Healthier Backs. They will come with a number of electrical adjustment options, while their pneumatic lumbar supports have a built-in massage function.

The materials used underline the character of the ‘feel-good’ lounge. There will be versions with seat covers made from animal-free materials. They are constructed of a combination of leatherette and ArtVelours – a microfibre material that consists of around 20% recycled PET bottles.

Ample sense of space
The ID.4’s interior design underlines the ample sense of space. Similar to the exterior design, it appears flowing and lightweight, focussing on the essential. The dash panel seems to be floating, as it is not linked to the centre console, which has been designed as an independent component.

The steering wheel, steering column, the housings of the display and control panels in the doors come in trendy Piano Black or purist Electric White. The bright colour sets a futuristic highlight throughout the vehicle interior and underlines its clear-cut design.

A large, tilting panoramic sunroof made of glass (optional) gives unrestricted view of the sky. As darkness falls, the background lighting can be adjusted within a 30-colour spectrum to set striking highlights in the vehicle interior.

Klaus Zyciora, Head of Volkswagen Group Design, emphasises that the entire display and operating concept has been designed logically and with a straightforward character. “The intuitive operability of the ID.4 brings a new, electric ease to the crossover SUV category,” he explained.

ID.Light
ID.Light is a new feature that will be offered in all ID. models. This is a light strip below the windscreen which supports drivers in a host of situations with intuitive lighting effects in different colours.

For instance, ID.Light will signal to the driver that the vehicle’s drive system is active and that the car has been unlocked or locked. It accentuates information issued by the driver assist and navigation systems and signals braking prompts and incoming phone calls.

In conjunction with the navigation system, ID.Light helps to smoothly guide drivers through traffic. By blinking, it recommends a lane change and can also warn the driver if their ID.4 is in the wrong lane.

For sale in major regions
The ID.4 will be part of the globally booming, compact SUV segment and Volkswagen’s plans call for it to be produced and sold not only in Europe but also in China and later in the USA. For this reason, the Volkswagen brand will be investing 11 billion euros in electric mobility by 2024 as part of the Transform 2025+ strategy.

2020 Volkswagen ID.3 makes global debut

Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback Concept

Audi launched its electric offensive with the all-electric Q4 e-tron SUV in September 2018 and by 2025, the carmaker aims to offer more than 20 vehicles with electric drive and achieve roughly 40% of its sales with electrified models.

To date, Audi has grown its electrified range to six models and the seventh will be the Q4 Sportback e-tron SUV coupe will be launched next year. Previewing the second e-tron SUV model as a concept study for now, Audi’s aim is to give potential Q4 customers the opportunity to start thinking about which version they prefer roughly a year before the first vehicles will be delivered.

MEB and its importance
The technology of the Q4 e-tron concept is provided by the modular electrification platform (MEB), which will be used for numerous electric vehicles produced by the Volkswagen Group in the future. This platform serves as the basis primarily for electric cars in the high-volume A segment. It allows the best technology available to be developed jointly across brands and used in many different electric cars. The MEB thus also helps electric mobility to break through even in the particularly price-sensitive compact segment.

The dimensions of the two Q4 models are almost identical. With an exterior length of 4.6 metres and a height of 1.6 metres, the Sportback is just 1 cm longer and flatter. They are identical in terms of their width and wheelbase.

They will also have the same drive technology using two electric motors with 225 kW of system output. Claimed acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h is 6.3 seconds, with the top speed restricted to 180 km/h.

Audi Q4 e-tron — *The Q4 e-tron which was launched in 2018 (left) and the Q4 e-tron Sportback concept which previews the next electric SUV model to go on sale in 2021.*

Electric quattro
The quattro all-wheel drive system sends the power to the road but there is no mechanical connection between the axles. Instead, an electronic control ensures that the torque distribution is coordinated optimally, and it does so in fractions of a second.

In most cases, the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept mainly uses its rear electric motor in order to achieve the highest efficiency. For reasons of efficiency, the drive torque is generally distributed with a rear-axle bias. If the driver requires more power than the rear electric motor can supply, the electric all-wheel drive uses the front asynchronous motor to redistribute the torque as required to the front axle. This also happens predictively even before slip occurs in icy conditions or when cornering fast, or if the car understeers or oversteers.

A large battery pack with a capacity of 82 kWh takes up almost the entire space in the underbody area between the axles. The range claimed from a fully charged pack is over 450 kms. Versions with rear-wheel drive can go further, with a range of over 500 kms. The battery is charged with a maximum of 125 kW, requiring little more than 30 minutes to reach 80% of the total capacity.

Sense of spaciousness
With its dimensions, the Q4 Sportback e-tron concept takes its position in the upper third of the compact class. By contrast, its wheelbase of 2.77 metres puts it at least one class higher. As there is no transmission tunnel restricting the space, there is generous legroom at the front and even more in the rear.

The colour scheme in the cabin emphasizes the sense of spaciousness. Sustainability is the top priority not only in terms of the electric drive but also materials used. The floor covering, for example, is made of recycled materials.

The Audi virtual cockpit displays the main elements for speed, charge level, and navigation, while a large-format head-up display with an augmented reality function is a new feature. It can display important graphical information, such as directional arrows for turning, directly on the course of the road.

As the centre console does not need to hold functional elements such as a gearlever or handbrake lever, the area is used for a more spacious stowage compartment that includes a cell phone charging cradle. In addition to the conventional lower storage compartment, the doors now provide the possibility to store bottles in the specially molded upper section, where they are easy to reach.

Audi electrification strategy — *By 2025, Audi aims to offer more than 20 vehicles with electric drive and achieve roughly 40% of its sales with electrified models.*

The gripping story of Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system

Volkswagen’s electric vehicles will use a 1-speed gearbox!

Volkswagen’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform is to be the key element in its future models as electrification increases. The platform, to be used by Volkswagen Group brands such as Audi, SEAT, Skoda and Volkswagen, has many sophisticated components optimized for electric drive systems.

One of these is the APP310 e-drive unit that will used for the Volkswagen ID.3 due in showrooms from mid-2020. The powerful unit transmits power to the driven wheels using an extremely compact gearbox with a single gear. The mechanism used has only a small number of cogs. It is manufactured by a Volkswagen subsidiary.

Is one gear enough?
But why is a single gear enough for the drive motor? The traction, ie the force that allows movement, and speed of a motor vehicle depend on the rotational speed of its drive system. As the speed of the drive system increases, the force transmitted to the wheels – the torque – can vary.

With a vehicle with a combustion engine, the torque increases along with the engine speed and then falls again. With an electric drive system, however, the maximum torque is available immediately and remains constant over a wide range of speeds. The use of a multi-speed gearbox to achieve the desired speed or the necessary torque along the speed curve is therefore not absolutely necessary.

One gear for every situation
That is why a 2-stage 1-speed gearbox is practical for the Volkswagen ID.3. When reversing the car, the direction of the electric drive system is simply reversed. In addition to various other components, power electronics are responsible for this and for the power characteristics of the drive system.

Volkswagen e-drive — *The e-drive weighs just 90 kgs and is compact enough to fit inside a bag.*

In order to generate the maximum output of 150 kW, the 90-kg electric drive unit must rotate at high speeds. For a high level of torque, a 10x transmission ratio is used. To save space, the gearbox has a two-stage design with two smaller cogs instead of one big one. As a result, the electric drive motor in the ID.3 provides maximum torque of 310 Nm constantly over a wide range of speeds. The maximum speed of 160 km/h is reached at a maximum of 16,000 rpm.

Precision manufacturing
Because an electric drive system is very quiet, the level of noise in an EV is very important. Even the tiniest sources of noise can be heard. The parts for the 1-speed gearbox must therefore be manufactured with great precision to ensure that they do not cause any additional noise. At the end of the production line, not only the power characteristics of the electric drive system checked but so are the relevant noise levels.

2020 Volkswagen ID.3 makes global debut

Volkswagen to be fully electrified in motorsports, no more internal combustion engine racing cars

After decades of factory-backed commitments in motorsports using cars with internal combustion engines, Volkswagen is taking a major step forward into the electric age of automobiles. Focusing its motorsport strategy on electric mobility, there will be a clear emphasis on fully electric racing cars.

“The role as a technological pioneer will continue to be taken over by the ID.R electric racing car, which has set important milestones for electric mobility with records at Pikes Peak in the USA, Nurburgring in Germany, Goodwood in England and Tianmen in China. In addition, Volkswagen Motorsport will develop new motorsport concepts for the ID. family on the basis of the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), on which numerous electric production vehicles will be based,” said Dr. Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand with responsibility for Technical Development.

Volkswagen MEB — *The Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) is the foundation of Volkswagen’s ID range of all-electric models and will also be used in the development of future electric racing cars.*

*The Volkswagen ID.R at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife chasing a new e-record.*

“Volkswagen Motorsport broke new ground with the ID.R, and with its records around the world it demonstrated the enormous potential of electric drive. Now is the time for the next step towards the future: in motorsport, Volkswagen is resolutely committing to e-mobility and will say goodbye to factory-backed commitments using internal combustion engines. In addition to the ID.R as a technological pioneer, the MEB will in future be the second, production-related pillar in Volkswagen’s motorsport programme,” he revealed.

“Electric mobility offers enormous development potential, and in this regard motorsport can be a trailblazer. On the one hand, it serves as a dynamic laboratory for the development of future production cars and, on the other, as a convincing marketing platform to inspire people even more towards electric mobility,” explained Volkswagen Motorsport Director, Sven Smeets. “That is why we are going to focus more than ever on factory-backed electric drive commitments and continue to expand our activities with the development of the MEB. Innovative technology relevant to the car of the future is our focus.”

“Volkswagen Motorsport has enjoyed success with
conventional racing cars for decades.
Electric drive is a new challenge for the engineers.”

Sven Smeets, Director Volkswagen Motorsport

Volkswagen WTCR — With the new direction towards all-electric racing cars, production of the Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack will not continue after this year. A successor based on the new generation will also not be developed for customer teams.

Electrifying customer sport programmes
Correspondingly, Volkswagen Motorsport’s customer sport programme will also be electrified. The first stage will involve different disciplines, platforms and vehicle types being examined and evaluated. Parallel to this, the production of the Golf GTI TCR for the racetrack will expire at the end of 2019. A successor based on the new generation will not be offered but customer service and spare parts supply will be guaranteed in the long term.

The Polo GTI R5 remains an integral part of Volkswagen Motorsport’s customer sport offering and will continue to be produced for customer teams. The Hanover base will be responsible for continued customer support, spare parts supply and the competitiveness of the Polo. However, factory-backed competition entries with the model will no longer go ahead.

(more…)

Piston.my

MEB

ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

First look inside the ID.4 – Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV

Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback Concept

Volkswagen’s electric vehicles will use a 1-speed gearbox!

Volkswagen to be fully electrified in motorsports, no more internal combustion engine racing cars

“Volkswagen Motorsport has enjoyed success with
conventional racing cars for decades.
Electric drive is a new challenge for the engineers.”

ID.4 – first all-electric SUV from Volkswagen

First look inside the ID.4 – Volkswagen’s first all-electric SUV

Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback Concept

Volkswagen’s electric vehicles will use a 1-speed gearbox!

Volkswagen to be fully electrified in motorsports, no more internal combustion engine racing cars

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“Volkswagen Motorsport has enjoyed success with conventional racing cars for decades. Electric drive is a new challenge for the engineers.”

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The Piston Show

“Volkswagen Motorsport has enjoyed success with
conventional racing cars for decades.
Electric drive is a new challenge for the engineers.”