VW to fleet test Twin Drive Golf plug-in hybrid concept in 2010
Click above for high-res gallery of the VW Twin Drive Golf
Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has revealed a new concept today called the Golf Twin Drive. The Twin Drive is a plug-in electric hybrid that uses a powerful 82-hp electric motor and a 2.0L turbodiesel producing 122 hp. The electric motor is fed energy from a pack of lithium-ion batteries that can sustain the car's mobility for about 50 kilometers or 31 miles, after which the diesel engine will take over propulsion duties. While we do know the Twin Drive also features start-stop technology and regenerative brakes, we're still a bit unclear on how everything works. From the way it's been described in the news and VW's somewhat vague press release that we've translated from German, the gas and electric motors are completely isolated, with one unable to provide the other assistance under heavy loads like in the Prius or a typical parallel hybrid. At the same time, the Twin Drive Golf doesn't sound like a series hybrid in the same vein as the Chevy Volt, as the gas engine (or diesel in this case) is directly connected to the drive wheels. In other words, the engine onboard is not simply a range-extending generator supplying power to recharge the batteries like in the Volt. What the Twin Drive appears to be is a plug-in hybrid with a very robust electric drivetrain that's forced to drag around an internal combustion engine in case it gets too far away from home. Regardless, when we find out exactly how Twin Drive works, we'll let you know.Volkswagen is developing the Twin Drive system with eight German partners and is planning a trial fleet of 20 Golfs outfitted with the system in 2010. The German government is along for the ride, and for a good bit of green PR, VW promises the the electricity used to charge the fleet of test vehicles will be generated from renewable sources like wind and solar power.
Gallery: Volkswagen Twin Drive Golf
[Source: Volkswagen]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Dave T. 11:43AM (6/26/2008)
John,
Your explanation of how it works is what I would guess too. Very odd.
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Chris 11:36AM (6/26/2008)
Mmmmmm hybrid TDI....that THAT is gonna get some MPG's
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zamafir 12:04PM (6/26/2008)
It actually doesnt, at least compared to say a pure tdi lupo or the a2, which is why VW initially reported they weren't going to produce the car.
John Johnson 11:39AM (6/26/2008)
Four door with black rub strips? Usually the four doors have color matched, and the two doors have black.
Er, I mean, cool concept, love the car, save the earth, vote for Al Gore.
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Keat 11:43AM (6/26/2008)
hahaha Al Gore....
Anyway, this car will be in testing by the time the Volt will hit the showrooms. That discription didn't make sense to me either. Sounds like it will go 30 miles, then it will act like a normal hybrid? where the engine shuts off and there is some electric propulsion?
BlackCanary 11:47AM (6/26/2008)
Actually Keat it sounds like it will not even do that. From the article (to me) I understand it to go 30 miles on electric and then it just becomes a TDI car with start stop.
tankd0g 11:54AM (6/26/2008)
With the specs they describe this could literally be whiped together by next month. You can buy cars like this on ebay, two electric motors and a big battery hooked to the rear wheels of a FWD car. I hope by 2010 they have upped the battery range and included regenerative charging features.
Keat 12:08PM (6/26/2008)
So the engine does not shut off after the battery has run down? Well that doesn't seem very innovative. Just another Plug-In.
1337 2:46PM (6/26/2008)
Yeah, I woulda bought one of these, but I couldn't stand the black rub strips.
sarcasm
tankd0g 11:41AM (6/26/2008)
Is this another Volt concept or does this actually do what they say it does?
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BlackCanary 11:45AM (6/26/2008)
Did you read the article? This is nothing like the Volt in concept or execution. Do you have insider knowledge that Volt does not work? All the information that has come out says it does work as envisioned. The only bad news about the Volt, so far, has been its initial price point. We cant say the Volt does not work when we do not know.
tankd0g 11:49AM (6/26/2008)
Uhhh... The Volt concepts we have seen, ALL OF THEM have been cardboard and plastic mockups, nothing worked in them. If this is the same, then big f***ing deal, I can park my Rav4 in front of a camera and tell you it's a 120 mile range EV too.
tankd0g 11:49AM (6/26/2008)
And no, they have not gotten the series part of the series hybrid to work. Surprised? Then take highschool physics agai.
zamafir 12:02PM (6/26/2008)
No, the easy way to test if something is vapor is to simply ask yourself, are people being allowed to drive the car on their own? Honda's fuel cell car is about $1,000,000 a pop but people can lease them, VW's going to allowing people to drive these, the Volt hasn't progressed to the point where a) it's even being photographed in production trim or b) being handed out to people.
Should GM meet their ever advancing deadline that'll change, but concepts like this are quite a bit easier to engineer then a fresh slate product like the Volt.
BlackCanary 12:05PM (6/26/2008)
Ok, I misunderstood your comment a little. Yes the actuall car in the picture of the Volt does not do anything. That is often true of concept cars, many dont even have engines and get pushed onto the stage. So I guess we dont know if the VW is much of the same.
You always have such vitrol filled comments about almost everything that it is easy to misundrstand you when you are just makeing a slightly snide remark.
why not the LS2LS7? 12:29PM (6/26/2008)
There are plenty of Volts that actually work. They are just mules, and they look like Malibus instead of having the Volt bodywork.
That's how the auto industry works. Why so angry?
tankd0g 12:37PM (6/26/2008)
*There are plenty of Malibou EV mules working.
Fixed that for ya.
When VW made the Golf W12 concept in 6 weeks it actually worked.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:24PM (6/26/2008)
No, they're Volt mules.
The name on a mule goes with the model it is muling for, not what it is made from.
There are different kinds of concepts. Some have working mechanicals, some don't.
But that's not the point, the Volt isn't a concept anymore, no more than the Camaro is. It's an in-development car.
Note that just because you haven't seen a Volt mule that looks anything like a Volt doesn't mean there aren't any.
Were you the one saying the Volt can't carry more than two people? Is that true, is it a two seater? Or are you just referring to the concept not having much space in the rear seat area.
BlackCanary 11:41AM (6/26/2008)
Not very exciting so far. Hopefully the news will get better and this will be more Voltish in that the engines are not mutually exclusive.
That reminds me ... I need to get the vanity plate "VOLTron" so I can sell it to some wiener when the Volt comes out. I figure there will be a few douche bags out there willing to pony up for it. Look at all the dilldos in Prius (no offense to the car) that have stupid vanity plates.
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Keat 11:44AM (6/26/2008)
Thats a great idea! You could easily make a couple hundred bucks I would guess. I like VOLTage