If you're a petrolhead, or if you're an environmentalist,
you have to admit electric cars are gaining ground.
The amount of electric cars on the road is increasing, maybe that's Tesla's fault with their Model S.
But we also see other brands catching the electrical hype, and they need to as well,
because we're running out of fossil fuels.
Volkswagen already has an electrical Golf, but it didn't have a very big range.
Volkswagen has now updated the e-Golf, better batteries, a larger engine, a better range.
Today we're going to find out how far the new e-Golf will take us, here on Mallorca.
But what did Volkswagen do exactly to make this car quicker, and how did they extend the range?
Well, they haven't put in more batteries, but they've put in better batteries,
which have a bigger capacity and a better cell-density.
And that's progress.
Also, when you get in the e-Golf, you immediately notice the seating position is higher than a normal Golf.
That's because batterypacks are hidden beneath the seats.
Just like in the central console, and partly beneath the trunk.
Nevertheless, the trunk is just as big in here as in the normal Golf, so you don't lose any luggage space.
It's still a practical car which fits five plus luggage in a comfortable way.
You just won't get as far as a Golf TDI or a Golf with a petrol engine.
But that's something you know you've signed up for, an electrical car just has a limited range.
Volkswagen states this car can go for 300 kilometres, however, that's a NEDC-count.
Volkswagen also honestly says, that when you use it normally; it'll go for about 200 kilometres.
We can see we've been using 17,1 kW for 100 km on average,
the range has already decreased from 260 kilometres to 183 kilometres, even though we've only been driving for 30 kilometres.
So it's very different.
Of course, you can influence the range by driving slower than normal,
whilst keeping it within the speed limit of course.
You really can make an effort in winning back energy.
If you put the gear lever in "P"-mode, it'll recover a little so when you get off the throttle,
you'll feel the car braking. So if you're a little bit handy with that,
you can drive the car with just one pedal. You won't have to touch the brakes because if you release the throttle,
the electrical engine braking will slow you down enough.
But how does an electrical Golf drive then? Well, just like a normal Golf actually,
but incredibly supple. Driving electric just is very nice to do.
When you get used to it, you don't really want anything else anymore.
Sure, it isn't as quick as a normal Golf, I mean it'll get to 150 km/h, nothing more.
And that's something you shouldn't drive very long either.
If I accelerate a little bit now... I just touched the throttle and it goes from 100 to 130 like that,
it's incredibly easy.
Of course, in a car like this, you can choose different driving modes.
The e-Golf lets you choose between "Normal", "Eco", and "Eco Plus".
The latter already gives it away, with Eco Plus you get the most out of your batteries.
In Eco Plus, your range increases as well.
So if you want to get the biggest amount of kilometres from your batteries, even when that means give in to less performance,
even though it's still supple and quick, you just select Eco Plus,
then you'll be driving efficient, quick, and a lot of kilometres as well.
Right. An electrical Golf. It's a little tricky of course,
you have to compare the advantages with the disdvantages.
The limited range is a disadvantage for example, the advantages however, are to be found in the costs.
Think of the running costs. Volkswagen provides you with a charging card for 10.000 kilometres,
also, when you leave the car at home, it won't really cost you anything.
You also don't have to pay the taxes, and if you drive this as a business car, you only pay 4% tax liability.
Of course, the residual value might be a concern.
I mean, you'll be driving a first generation electrical car, you wouldn't want a first generation e-Golf as well,
because you know there's a better alternative, with a bigger range, I might add.
So those are some aspects you might want to consider when purchasing a car like this.
But if you look at the driving experience and the level of comfort, there aren't really any downsides to this car...
I love it.