[Cartoday]
Volkswagen has unveiled the new Golf Twin Drive concept car to voice its intention to market and produce plug-in hybrids. The Twin Drive moniker refers to the concept’s twin powerplant design, which features an electric motor for town driving and an internal combustion engine for longer trips.
The Twin Drive’s electric motor develops a peak output of 61 kW and is capable of propelling the Golf to a top speed of 120 km/h. The electric motor is run by a series of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries that can be topped up from a household power outlet. Operating solely on electric power, the Twin Drive has a range of up to 50 km, enough for most daily trips. When the batteries are depleted a 2,0-litre turbodiesel engine, developing 91 kW, kicks in.In addition to mains electricity, the batteries can also receive a charge from a regenerative braking system, while engine stop-start technology helps to improve the car’s range.Although the Twin Drive is currently a concept, Volkswagen will trial a fleet of 20 Twin Drive Golfs in 2010 as part of an initiative with the German government investigating the future of personal mobility. To ensure the cars are true zero-emissions vehicles, the electrical energy required to charge the batteries under the trial will be generated from renewable resources such as wind and hydroelectric power.
