Volkswagen 1-litre car
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox electric vehicle
The Volkswagen XL1 (VW 1-litre) is a two-person limited production diesel-powered plug-in hybrid produced by Volkswagen. The XL1 car was designed to be able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel (Script error: No such module "convert".), with a fully charged battery, while being both roadworthy and practical.[1] Without using electric, the XL can travel 100 km on 2 litres of diesel.[2] To achieve such economy, it was produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. The concept car was modified first in 2009 as the L1[3] and again in 2011 as the XL1.[4]
A limited production of 250 units began by mid 2013 and pricing started at €Template:Replace (~ Template:GBP). The Volkswagen XL1 plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was available only in Europe and its 5.5 kWh lithium-ion battery delivered an all-electric range of Script error: No such module "convert".,[5] had a fuel economy of Script error: No such module "convert". under the NEDC cycle and produced emissions of 21 g/km of CO2.[6] The XL1 was released to retail customers in Germany in June 2014.[5]
History
2002 VW 1-litre model
The prototype VW 1-litre concept car was shown to the public in April 2002 when Ferdinand Piëch, then chairman of the board of management, drove the concept between Wolfsburg and Hamburg as part of the Volkswagen annual meeting of stockholders.
For aerodynamics, the car seats two in tandem, rather than side-by-side. There are no rear view mirrors and it instead uses cameras and electronic displays. The rear wheels are close together to allow a streamlined body. The total aerodynamic drag is minimal because both the drag coefficient and frontal area are small (see drag equation). The drag coefficient (Cd) is 0.159,[1] compared to 0.30 - 0.40 for typical cars.
The external dimensions of the car are Script error: No such module "convert". long, Script error: No such module "convert". wide and Script error: No such module "convert". tall. There is Script error: No such module "convert". of storage space. The car features an aircraft-style canopy, flat wheel covers and an underbelly cover to smooth the airflow. The engine cooling vents open only as needed.
.jpg){kind=link}
For light weight, the car uses an unpainted carbon fibre skin over a magnesium-alloy subframe. Individual components have been designed to be low weight, including engine, transmission, suspension, wheels (carbon fibre), brakes (aluminium), hubs (titanium), bearings (ceramic), interior, and so on. Empty vehicle weight is Script error: No such module "convert"..
The body and frame are designed with crush/crumple zones and roll-over protection, and the tandem seating means large side crush zones. Volkswagen claims protection comparable to a GT racing car. The car has anti-lock brakes, airbags with pressure sensors, and stability control.[7]
The engine is a one-cylinder Script error: No such module "convert". diesel producing just Script error: No such module "convert".. It drives through a six-speed transmission that combines stick-shift mechanics, weight, and drive efficiency with automatic convenience and efficiency controls. There is no clutch pedal. The gear selection (forwards, reverse or neutral) is made using a switch on the right-hand side of the cockpit. The engine is switched off automatically during deceleration and stops, and auto-restarted when the acceleration pedal is pressed.
According to Volkswagen, the vehicle consumes Script error: No such module "convert"., giving it a Script error: No such module "convert". driving range on one tank of fuel.
At the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show senior VW exec Ferdinand Piëch claimed the car would be available by the end of the decade.[8][9]
Around June 2008 car magazines were reporting a powerplant change to a two-cylinder diesel-electric hybrid. Volkswagen only expected the car to be a limited production run, and prices were expected by one industry insider to be between €20,000 and €30,000.[8][9]
2009 VW L1 model
The second Volkswagen 1-litre car, named L1, was first shown to the public at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.[10] Limited production of the VW L1 was expected to start in 2013 but with the announcement of the XL1 in 2011 this was considered unlikely.[11]
The L1 continues the two-seater tandem concept first shown in the 2002 1-litre concept. It has a curb weight of Script error: No such module "convert"., with a low coefficient of drag of 0.195. It is Script error: No such module "convert". in length, Script error: No such module "convert". tall and Script error: No such module "convert". wide. Frontal area is Template:Cvt, giving a drag area (CdA) of Template:Cvt.
It uses one half of a 1.6-litre TDI engine in a hybrid installation. The 800 cm3, twin-cylinder, common-rail turbodiesel is joined by a Script error: No such module "convert". electric motor and has a CO2 emission 39 g/km. The engine operates in two modes: "eco" mode, giving Script error: No such module "convert"., and "sport" mode giving Script error: No such module "convert".. The electric motor provides extra acceleration and can power the L1 on its own for short distances.[12] Volkswagen claimed the L1 can achieve a top speed of Template:Cvt, with Template:Cvt acceleration in 14.3 s.[13]
2011 VW XL1 model
The XL1 is the third iteration of the Volkswagen 1-litre car, unveiled at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show. The diesel plug-in hybrid prototype is branded as a "Super Efficient Vehicle" (SEV).[14]
According to Volkswagen, the XL1 can achieve a combined fuel consumption of Script error: No such module "convert".[15] and CO2 emissions of 24 g/km. Like the L1, the XL1 uses a two-cylinder turbo-diesel. Displacing Template:Cvt, it is rated at Template:Cvt and Template:Cvt of torque and transmits power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed DSG transmission. The electric motor pitches in with Template:Cvt and Template:Cvt of torque, and can work in parallel with the diesel or drive the car independent of it. Fully charged, the XL1 can travel up to Script error: No such module "convert". on electric power.
The XL1 has a curb weight of Script error: No such module "convert"., and a Template:Cd (a similar drag coefficient to the General Motors EV1 electric car). Frontal area is 1.5 m2 giving a Template:CdA m2.[16] Just 23.2% of the car (Script error: No such module "convert".) is made out of either steel or iron; the drivetrain weighs Script error: No such module "convert".. The XL1's length and width are similar to the Volkswagen Polo, with a length of Script error: No such module "convert". and width of Script error: No such module "convert".. However, the car is much lower with a height of only Script error: No such module "convert"., and has a coupe-like roofline, reducing interior volume. The design incorporates butterfly doors, with the interior seating layout using a staggered side-by-side arrangement similar to a Smart Fortwo, rather than the previous versions' tandem seating.
Performance credentials include a governed top speed of Script error: No such module "convert"., with acceleration to Script error: No such module "convert". in 11.9 seconds.[17][18]
Production version
In February 2012, Volkswagen confirmed that it would build a limited series of XL1s starting in 2013.[19] The production version of the plug-in diesel-electric hybrid was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.[20]
As with the 2011 concept XL1, it is powered by an 800 cm3 two-cylinder diesel engine with Template:Cvt and a Template:Cvt electric motor. The combined power output is Template:Cvt and torque is Template:Cvt.[21] Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The wheels are fitted with low rolling resistance tyres sized 115/80 R15 (front) and 145/55 R16 (rear).[22] The drag coefficient has increased slightly from 0.186 to 0.189.[2] The production version delivers an all-electric range of Script error: No such module "convert".,[20][21] in addition to a 10-litre fuel tank[2] which allows for over Script error: No such module "convert". of real-life driving until the car needs to be refueled.[2]
In February 2013, Volkswagen announced that it expected the XL1 to achieve a fuel consumption of Script error: No such module "convert". and emissions of 21 g/km of CO2. The test cycle allows for a re-charge of the battery every Script error: No such module "convert". which results in a high mpg value.
Using diesel alone the car is capable of up to Script error: No such module "convert"..[2] One reviewer found that, in real-life traffic, with air conditioning on and without attempts at hypermiling, the car is able to reliably achieve Script error: No such module "convert"..[23]
-
Frontal view of the 2013 production XL1
-
Rear view of the 2013 production XL1
-
Volkswagen XL1 cockpit 2013 Tokyo Motor Show
Production and sales
Production began by mid 2013 and was limited to 250 units. A total of 50 units had been built by early September 2013, and the remaining 200 XL1s were scheduled to be built in the second quarter of 2014. Prices started at €Template:Replace. The XL1 was available in Europe only.[6] Retail deliveries began in Germany in June 2014.[5]
Of the 250 units to be produced, 200 were to be sold to retail customers. Volkswagen opened a registration process for interested customers that closed on 18 October 2013. Because more than 200 potential buyers registered, a drawing was conducted to select the customers with a purchase option for the available cars. They were offered a purchase contract and after the payment of a €Template:Replace deposit, the purchase agreement for an XL1 was binding.[24][25]
Reception
The Volkswagen XL1 was selected in February 2014 as one of the top five finalists for the 2014 World Car of the Year.
See also
- Electric car use by country
- Plug-in electric vehicle
- Plug-in hybrid
- List of modern production plug-in electric vehicles
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Template:Cbignore
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Script error: No such module "Side box".
- Volkswagen press release, 15 April 2002, "The 1-litre car" (archived) Template:Webarchive
- Volkswagen press release, 15 September 2009, E-Up! and L1 (archived) Template:Webarchive
- Official Volkswagen 1-Litre car press release
- Official Volkswagen L1 press release
- Official Volkswagen XL1 press release
- Supercars 1-litre report
Template:VW Template:Navbox top