Volkswagen plans to begin production of electric vehicles at its two Chinese joint ventures, FAW Volkswagen and Shanghai Volkswagen by 2014. The plan is to be producing 100,000 units a year by 2018 as Volkswagen tries to help China cut pollution and reduce its dependence on oil.

Karl-Thomas Neumann, the Volkswagen China president and chief executive said:

“E-vehicles have so far been limited by cost batteries, and a lack of economies of scale and models considered appealing to car buyers and they were needed to reduce China’s pollution and reliance on oil. I am convinced e-vehicles will be a success in China because I think it is desperately needed”

The Chinese central government has declared the electric vehicle industry a top priority, earmarking $1.5 billion per year for the next 10 years to become one of the leading producers of clean vehicles. It has named 25 cities including Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen to lead the migration to green vehicles.

Volkswagen unveiled London Taxi Up! concept on December 14. Designed to meet the challenges faced by cars in modern cities, with tight restrictions on space and emissions, the VW Taxi concept is powered by an electric motor fed by lithium-ion batteries. With a capacity of 45 kW/h the batteries allow the electric motor to generate a maximum power output of 115 PS, translating to a theoretical top speed of 74 mph.

Volkswagen Taxi concept has an 186-mile-range and it takes one hour to complete an 80% charge. The London Taxi Up! is quite similar to the Milano Taxi concept shown earlier this year, which was in turn based upon the company’s 2007 Space Up! Blue concept.

The London Taxi concept, which measures 3,730 mm in length, 1,680 mm in width and 1,600 mm in height, is shorter than the current smallest … Read More

Volkswagen unveiled the E-Bora electric vehicle, in Changchun, northeast China’s Jilin Province, Tuesday on December 14.

The company plans to trial the E-Bora in 2011 in Changchun City, Jilin, and Foshan City, Guangdong Province with a full market launch in 2013.

The E-Bora is charged with VW’s Blue-e-Motion Li-ion batteries rated at 26.5kWH whilst the batteries weigh in at 315kg including their cooling systems.

The E-Bora‘s traction motor was developed by Sanyo with batteries supplied by BYD. Volkswagen are also working with various other battery suppliers to find the optimal one.

The new VW Golf VI is already customized by the professional car styling group CarFilm Components Styling Station, which managed to create an aesthetic and performance kit, especially for this hatch. They offer 19-inch ASA GT2 rims with red strips and a brand-new 1.500 euro silver metallic paint.

The car was added a powerful Pioneer HiFi system for a professional sound and, according to the tuner, for 800 euro they will offer you a … Read More