FEATURE

The Electric Compact Volkswagen ID Is Already Being Tested on the Road

Volkswagen has begun road testing its compact, fully electric ID prototype in South Africa. The model represents an important step for the German manufacturer because it was conceived from the outset as an electric vehicle, rather than being adapted from a conventional platform and combustion-engine design.

Despite the prototype’s camouflage, its proportions place it firmly in the compact C-segment alongside models such as the Volkswagen Golf, SEAT León and Peugeot 308.

Volkswagen design director Klaus Bischoff said the production model would remain close to the concept car in its proportions, design lines and wheel size. Cameras replacing the exterior mirrors were dropped for legal reasons, while electrically operated door handles were excluded because of cost.

Development and planned production

The first pre-production cars were completed in April, giving Volkswagen’s engineers approximately 16 months to finish development. At the time of the announcement, the company planned to begin producing customer-ready vehicles in November 2019 and to open ordering in early 2020.

Range and expected price

Volkswagen said the entry-level version would be priced similarly to a diesel-powered car. That version was expected to offer approximately 330 kilometres of range under the WLTP testing cycle.

Two additional versions with larger batteries were also planned. According to Volkswagen’s head of e-mobility, Christian Senger, these variants were expected to provide ranges of more than 400 kilometres and 600 kilometres respectively on a single charge.

Part of a broader electric range

The compact ID was presented as the first of five planned Volkswagen electric models. The wider family was expected to include:

ID Crozz electric SUV
ID Buzz passenger van
ID Buzz Cargo commercial van
ID Vizzion sedan concept