Volkswagen wants to give you an ELECTRIC e-Golf for 48 hours
The Volkswagen e-Golf – VW’s electric take on the ubiquitous Golf – is available for 48-hour test drives as VW push to get EVs accepted by car buyers.
It’s a risky move to deliver a range of electric vehicles to as market which really shows no sign of wanting electric cars in great numbers, and with a rapidly changing technology landscape – especially the arrival soon of Solid State batteries from Toyota – it could go horribly wrong.
Now, no doubt in an effort to get car buyers to realise that an EV really can fit their needs, VW is offering 48-hour test drives of their current electric car offering – the VW e-Golf.
Tim O’Donovan, VW’s UK EV Marketing Manager, said:
The charm of the e-Golf is it has all of the talents of the familiar Golf hatch, with the simple addition of an electric powertrain.
What the new 48-hour test drive offers is the chance for people to learn first-hand how simply the e-Golf will fit into their lives. The two-day experience lets people challenge the e-Golf with all sorts of scenarios particular to their car needs, and for the e-Golf to demonstrate its numerous qualities.
What you get is free use of an e-Golf for 48-hours to see how an EV really feels no different than an ICE Golf, except for the fact it’s quieter, springs off the line more impressively and cost pennies to refuel.
But you will probably only get around 120 miles of range, so recharging will be needed. And that is where the offer probably falls flat; searching out somewhere to charge and twiddling thumbs while you wait for enough charge to enjoy the rest of you 48-hour test drive.
Which could be counterproductive for VW.
Duly says
As an e-Golf owner, I don’t find the limited range to be a big negative. Occasionally I need to go farther than 125 miles and on those trips I have to plan where I’m going to charge. It hasn’t been that big of a deal here in Southern California. DC fast charging takes about 30 minutes- just enough time to have have a bite to eat, or have a coffee. I find charging occasionally it to be less annoying than going to gas stations regularly. Plus, in LA it’s not hard to find FREE charging. There are parking structures with free charging next to my gym. Keep in mind a smaller battery is cheaper (most expensive part of a BEV) and lighter (better driving dynamics). Since I didn’t feel I needed more than 125 miles of range, I saw the small battery as a benefit. Battery cost $250 per kWh.
Cars UK says
Absolutely valid points and well made. The point we were making is that VW want to turn car buyers on to EVs, and we thought letting them loose in the e-Golf when the ID3 launches next year could be counter productive.
Cars UK says
It seems entirely fair to note the range on the e-Golf is not exactly stellar. And it does seem counterproductive to offer test drives of an EV with a quite limited range when the ID3 is round the corner with up to 300 miles plus.
D K84 says
Author clearly missing the point of why they’re offering the test drive, by making negative comments about charging at the end.
How about taking them up on the offer before writing an article trying to put people off?