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Electric cars are increasing their range 3. Electric cars have the best climate footprint4. Electric cars protect their surroundings5. Electric cars facilitate the energy revolution It has been shown in many studies that electric drive systems are by far the most efficient methods for powering vehicles. Prof. Maximilian Fichtner 1. Electric cars are the most efficient to drive Of all the drive systems under discussion, electric motors make the most of the energy used. “70 percent of the energy generated is transferred to the wheels,” says KIT expert Fichtner. The efficiency level of other drive systems: hydrogen: 15 to 18 percente-fuels (synthetic fuel): 5 to 8 percent modern combustion engines: 20 to 24 percent The electric drive system benefits from the fact that it works according to a simple principle: electricity, such as from wind power, is stored in the battery and transferred to wheel-mounted electric motors as required. Hydrogen, on the other hand, undergoes a complex production, transport, and conversion process, before it even reaches the fuel cells in the car. This results in high energy losses. 2. Electric cars are increasing their range Electric vehicles already offer practical ranges for everyday use. Take the ID.3, for example: the compact Volkswagen model can cover up to 558 kilometres with the 77-kWh battery and even with the slightly smaller 58-kWh battery, it is still capable of up to 429 kilometres (both according to WLTP).

Starting today, the all-electric ID.5 will be coming off the production line at Volkswagen’s Zwickau site – this is the sixth electric model to come from the car plant in Saxony. One factory – six cars: an extraordinary challenge. Experts Robert Pahlow (start-up management) and Frank Schemmel (vehicle production) explain how it works. 1. Identical assembly concepts Zwickau produces models as diverse as the compact ID.3 from Volkswagen and the Q4 e-tron, an SUV from Audi. However, when it comes to what’s inside, the cars have a lot of similarities. The bumper, for example: the design is different, but the screws, tools and grips are the same. Robert Pahlow can count more than 120 instances of “identical concepts”. And the models from Zwickau are also closely related when it comes to the software. This is facilitated by the shared technical basis – the Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). Volkswagen’s vehicle architecture developed specifically for electric drive gives long ranges, plenty of space inside and strong performance. 2. Flexible change Production is extremely versatile: various measures, such as a special indicator (“PR number”), guide the different models to the respective production line with so much precision that employees always know which parts they need to install.

For the latest models in the all-electric ID. family, which leave the factory with the ID. Software 3.0 on board, Volkswagen offers the option of Travel Assist with Swarm Data*, which actively keeps the car in the middle of the lane. In doing so, it adapts to the driving style and can drive either further to the left or further to the right in its own lane. The system has predictive cruise control and cornering assistance. The vehicle speed can be adapted to the relevant speed limits and road layouts (bends, roundabouts etc.). Talk to your car: “Hello ID.” Language barriers when holidaying abroad? Not with your own Volkswagen – the voice control always reacts to questions and commands from the driver, wherever it is. In the ID. models, it is activated with the command “Hallo ID.”. With a natural-language character, the system understands free wordings and questions. When necessary, it asks questions and will even interrupt sometimes. In many Volkswagen models, the voice control performs an online comparison. This improves the rate of recognition and quality of result, even when searching for points of interest. Voice control is available in all ID. models on the German market, provided you have a navigation system and the We Connect Plus service is activated. Energy-saving driving: the Eco Assistant in the all-electric ID. models A day trip into the hills of Tuscany? Or a winding coastal route in Norway? The Volkswagen ID. models can be driven in a predictive and energy-saving manner everywhere, because the Eco Assistant comes as standard. It analyses navigational data and traffic signs. When the car is approaching a zone that requires the car to be driven more slowly – like a corner, town or roundabout – the system informs the driver that they should take their foot off the accelerator pedal. Energy saving made easy! Linking car and smartphone: We Connect. Where exactly is my car in this huge car park at the beach? Did I lock the doors?

Daniel Ott set off in his fully electric Volkswagen ID.5 GTX. Clear, summer-fresh mountain air streams through the open windows, the only sound is the tinkling of cowbells. This is how the all-electric ID.5 GTX rolls along the asphalt ribbon that winds its way through green meadows up to the world-famous Furka Pass. Switzerland looks so beautiful it's almost kitschy, the idyllic Alpine landscape stretches out in front of the windscreen as though it were a painting. You quickly get used to such views on the 1,643-kilometre-long Grand Tour of Switzerland but you never get tired of it. The route takes you over five Alpine passes, past 22 lakes and to 46 top sights – of which 13 alone have UNESCO World Heritage status – and leads all the way around and across the Alpine country. The road trip, which is mainly on country roads, is a carefree pleasure for e-car drivers: more than 200 charging stations can be found along the route, 60 of which are fast-charging stations. Information on the tour and the sights can also be found in the Grand Tour app. And so Daniel Ott, native of Switzerland and fan of the all-electric ID. Volkswagen models, can relax and enjoy the landscape cinema. With a range of up to 490 kilometres (WLTP), his ID.5 GTX is perfectly suitable for long journeys. In addition, the E-SUV coupé from Volkswagen provides its passengers with maximum travelling comfort. The extremely spacious interior also provides plenty of room in the rear, while the panoramic glass roof offers magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.

Nikolaos Komineas is one of the driving forces behind the carbon-neutral transformation of transportation and energy supply on the Greek island of Astypalea. In an interview, the mayor outlines his motivation and gives an insight into the details of the conversion.

Reduce loss of range with an all-electric ID. model in the winter, without compromising on comfort – is that possible? It is if you follow our nine tips. Tip 1: Mode B in the city, mode D in the country Every ID. model features driving modes B and D. B (for brake) is suited to the city: When you take your foot off the throttle, the car regenerates power – it uses the electric motor in the rear to brake, converting the kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is then stored in the battery. D (for drive), on the other hand, is the programme for motorways and major roads – here, the car continues to ‘sail’ when you take your foot off the throttle. Using kinetic energy to cover large distances is the most efficient way to move. Tip 2: Think ahead while driving and activate Eco mode Above speeds of around 60 km/h, efficiency is particularly dependent on aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, the power consumption of an electric car also increases disproportionately. An additional 10 km/h can have a noticeable effect on range. Think ahead while driving and use the sail function where possible. And select Eco mode from the driving profile selection! This reduces the power of the air conditioning slightly and supports efficient driving when accelerating. You can use kickdown to override this at any time. Driver assistance systems help save power. Tip 3: Use driver assistance systems All ID. models have the Eco Assistant on board as standard. This supports a forward-looking, efficient style of driving. For example, when the car approaches a corner or built-up area, the system uses messages to inform the driver when to take their foot off the throttle. The Eco Assistant also automatically increases recuperation where possible. All ID. models have the Eco Assistant on board as standard. Tip 4: Only heat the driver area Do you drive an ID. model with 2-zone or 3-zone climate control? If you are alone in the car, only heat the driver area if possible.

There’s only one car that stands out with its hint of blue: the ID.3 1st. “It was our first electric car around six months ago, and we deliberately chose the striking colour to send a message,” said Malte Sander, who is the second generation to run the driving school. Combustion engines to make way for electric cars The 43-year-old has been enthusiastically accelerating the transformation of the driving school in the direction of electric mobility ever since – the fleet now also includes four ID.4. “We currently have around 30 cars with a combustion engine in our fleet, and we want to replace as many of these as possible with electric cars. But this has to be done in line with operational processes,” explained Sander. It’s not only the costs that are a factor, the charging infrastructure is the main consideration. “As a driving school, we applied for several grants, and the first of those has now been approved. So the first step here at our HQ is to set up four charging stations.” It also makes sense for driving schools to have electric cars from the manufacturers’ perspective. Besides the sales of cars to driving schools, the main factor is the enthusiasm among learner drivers: if you learn to drive in an electric car, it is often the case that you then want to drive an electric car. And it is not unusual for this to even be the same model in which you learned to drive and passed your test – there’s still that positive connection. It is primarily the younger generation who will be the decisive factor in determining how quickly electric cars gradually replace combustion engines on the road. Which means driving schools help form opinions. “Electric mobility is the future and is a lot of fun.”

“Everything you have heard in the past few hours,” he says, driving off in a brand-new ID.3. But not without a parting shot: “Electric driving is simply groundbreaking.“ There is nothing more to add. Just the FIVA Heritage Hall of Fame Award. Congratulations, “Mr. Volkswagen” Carl H. Hahn! More on the subject Press Release Visiting Carl Hahn on his 95th Birthday Jobs Created, Prosperity Earned