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Bigger VW E-up possible for US
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
A larger version of the Volkswagen E-Up electric-vehicle concept is reported to be under development for sale in the United States.
The European launch of the E-Up is scheduled for the end of next year. The concept currently has 18kW batteries that can be charged in five hours, giving a range of 80 miles.
See the VW E-Up picture gallery
The E-Up will sit alongside electric and diesel versions of the Up city car, but is not considered big enough for the US market.
However, VW is keen to put a variant of the E-Up on sale in the US, with VW's product development chief Ulrich Hackenberg telling Automotive News: "The reason we are working on an electric vehicle is the American market."
In its current concept form the E-Up weighs just 1085kg - light considering the batteries alone weigh 240kg.
Solar panels measuring 1.4 square metres help to back up the batteries. The Up is shorter than a Fiat 500, but has the same wheelbase, with minimal front and rear overhangs.
Inside, the car has a three-plus-one seating arrangement, allowing two adults to sit on the passenger's side and a child to sit behind the driver. The total load space is 80 litres, rising to 320 litres when the seats are folded
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