Volkswagen of America, Inc. has announced details of the e-Golf, its first fully electric vehicle to go on sale in the U.S., which will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The e-Golf is part of a structured powertrain strategy that will lead to the timely introduction of new and alternative drive systems, and is a part of Volkswagen's holistic approach to sustainability, Think Blue. Volkswagen has stated that it aims to be the world leader in e-mobility among automakers by 2018.

Although Volkswagen has sold more than 30 million Golf models worldwide, this is the first zero tailpipe emissions, fully electric version of the car that will be sold to the public.

The e-Golf is powered by a 115bhp electric motor. From a standing start, the EEM-85 synchronous permanent-magnet AC motor develops an impressive 270Nm of torque, allowing the e-Golf to reach 40km/h from rest in 4.2 seconds and to get to 100km/h in approximately 10.4 seconds.

Top speed is electronically limited to 140km/h. Depending on driving style and charging behavior, the average range for the e-Golf is between 112km and 145km.

As the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) architecture that underpins the new Golf A7 is so flexible, Volkswagen was able to integrate the lithium-ion battery in a space-saving frame in the vehicle floor, under the front and rear seats and in the centre tunnel.

The liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery accounts for 318kg of the e-Golf model's 1,402kg kerb weight. It is composed of a total of 264 individual prismatic cells, which are integrated into 27 modules (each with six or twelve cells). Collectively, the cells have a nominal rating of 323 volts, with an overall capacity of 24.2kWh.

There are several different ways of charging the e-Golf's battery, via the car's standard 7.2kW onboard charger. The most optimal solution is the available 220v wallbox for a garage or carport: this charges at 7.2kW, enabling a completely flat battery to be fully charged in less than four hours. The most cost-effective and easiest alternative is to plug the standard charging cable into a 110/120v electrical socket, which will take around 20 hours to charge the battery.

The e-Golf also features two technologies that allow the driver to control the vehicle's energy use: three driving profiles designed to preserve energy (Normal, Eco, and Eco+); and three different levels of regenerative braking (D1, D2, and D3/B).

Eco mode pares back the electric motor's maximum power output to 94bhp and the starting torque to 219Nm. In parallel, the electronics reduce the output of the air conditioning system and modify the response curve of the accelerator pedal. In Eco mode, the e-Golf is limited to a top speed of 115km/h and 0 to 100km/h acceleration is increased to 13.1 seconds.

In addition to the driving modes, the regenerative braking system can also be used to manage range. It is possible to use regenerative braking consciously to slow the e-Golf down. Level D1 regenerates energy and slows down the car the least, while level B has the strongest effect. At levels D2, D3 and B, the deceleration via regenerative braking is so strong that the brake lights come on automatically. However, if the battery is fully charged, no energy regeneration takes place.