The government’s recent announcement that no more fossil fuel-powered cars will be sold in the UK from 2040 has put fresh impetus into electric and hybrid sales. That’s still a long time away, however the rapid progress of battery and charging technology now gives plug-in electric cars improved range and makes them more economical and cost efficient than ever. Take a close look at our Volkswagen electric and hybrid range, from the city friendly electric e-up! and new Golf GTE performance hatch to Passat GTE, the high performance executive hybrid.
The smart and stylish up! is a great urban vehicle and in electric-powered form makes even more sense. Total freedom from congestion charging is combined with peppy performance, plus you get electric windows, climate control and tinted rear glass. Leather-trim steering wheel, smartphone interface and the up’s sharkskin upper dash make for a cabin you’ll be happy to spend time in.
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The iconic hatchback but with a modern yet innovative battery electric motor. Details include the blue e-Design accents and a blue-backed Volkswagen logo both front and rear. The black grille has a closed finish with e-Golf lettering.
Responsible, low-emissions driving doesn’t have to be dull. The GTE stands alongside the petrol GTi and diesel GTD as a hybrid Golf performance vehicle. Drive on electric power in town, use both electric and petrol engines for full overtaking performance and switch to petrol on longer journeys – all modes are accomplished smoothly and automatically. And you can always press the GTE button to liberate the full power of electric motor and TSI engine combined, for maximum grin factor. Available with the Advance enhanced package of Marseille allow wheels and rear tinted windows.
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The high performance plug-in hybrid packed with extras. The GTE Advance comes with even more features including the Discover Navigation touch-screen navigation/radio system with Car-Net ‘Guide and Inform’. Building upon the impressive Composition Media system found in the GTE, the additional features enable you to easily manage not only your music, but also navigation data and a broad range of vehicle information.
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The two plug-in hybrid Passat models offer refinement, space, power and generous equipment levels, along with the potential for zero-emissions motoring for around 30 miles, well within most people’s regular daily journey cycles. With electric only, electric plus petrol and petrol only, it’s like owning three cars – each perfectly suited to its environment. Total range is around 660 miles, 0-62mph takes just 7.4 seconds and an advanced infotainment system including Car-Net keeps you informed, connected and entertained.
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From the outside, you may not initially notice a difference between the electric/hybrid Volkswagen models and their petrol-powered siblings. Volkswagen uses subtle flashes of blue to signify electric power, including the unique ‘C’ signature LED running lights, and in the case of the Golf GTE, the GTi’s famed red tartan seat fabrics are offered instead as a distinctive blue colourway. The Passat GTE flags up its electric-power credentials with a distinctive and stylish blue strip just above the signature full-width grille. Both the Golf GTE and Passat GTE are available in standard and Advance trim, the latter offering distinctive alloy wheels and other equipment upgrades.
Volkswagen’s decision to base its electric and hybrid vehicles on existing models means you’ll benefit from proven safety features and impressively high EuroNCAP ratings across the board. A model like the Passat GTE, for example, offers pedestrian monitoring and will even bring the car to a complete and safe halt in the event that the driver is incapacitated. While that’s the top of the Volkswagen electric/hybrid range, even the e-up! has impressive safety technology such as City Emergency braking.
Volkswagen offers two pure electric vehicles and two plug-in hybrids. Taking the electric-only models first, the e-up! Has a direct drive electric motor for zero-emissions driving at all times, with a range of 75-100 miles (depending on how much of its performance you exploit) making it ideal for city journeys and the average commute. The new e-Golf, due in 2018, will be more of a crossover between urban and intercity with a range of up to 186 miles and an impressive turn of speed.
If you need to travel faster or further on occasion, the two plug-in hybrids in the range offer the best options. The Golf GTE is unashamedly a performance Golf like the GTi or GTE, using the combined power of a 148bhp 1.4 TSI petrol engine and a 101bhp electric motor to deliver sub 8s 0-62mph times. The Passat GTE, being a bigger car, has a 154bhp 1.4 TSI and 114bhp electric motor for a combined power of 215bhp. The big advantage of both is that they’re plug-in hybrids; so you can charge up at home or the office and travel smoothly and silently for around 30 miles on electric power alone, saving money and the environment. Yet if you do need to tackle a longer journey there’s no range anxiety to combat – petrol power takes over and you can fill up in minutes wherever you are.
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