Volkswagen of America said today that the pricing of the 2017 e-Golf. It’s fully-electric e-Golf with a longer EPA-estimated range, better fuel economy and more power than its predecessor starts at a Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) with delivery for the e-Golf SE is $31,315. It’s available at 651 independent U.S. dealers, who were badly hurt during the Dieselgate fraud scandal.
For 2017, Volkswagen is using an updated lithium-ion battery with an increased energy capacity of 35.8 kWh, up from 24.2 kWh. The revised battery increases the range from an EPA-estimated total range of 83 miles to 125 miles on a single charge – under ideal conditions, your mileage can and likely will vary.
The 7.2 kW on-board charger is now standard on all trim levels, which enables the battery to be charged in less than six hours at a 240V charging station. When equipped with DC Fast Charging (optional on SE, standard on Limited Edition and SEL Premium), the battery can be charged up to 80% within an hour at a DC fast charging station.
There’s a catch however – potentially an expensive one: up to 80% charge within an hour requires charging at a limited number of DC fast charging stations. Frequent and consecutive high-voltage charging – including DC charging – can permanently decrease the capacity of the high-voltage battery. It’s like the old ‘memory effect’ of Ni-Cad batteries.
Improved battery chemistry also helps improve the overall fuel economy of the 2017 e-Golf. For city driving, the EPA estimated fuel economy is 126 MPGe; highway driving is rated at 111 MPGe; and combined city/ highway at 119 MPGe, improved over the 2016 EPA estimates of 126, 105 and 116, respectively.
The electric motor on the 2017 e-Golf replaces an 85-kW electric motor developing 115 horsepower with a new 100 kW electric motor rated 134 horsepower. Maximum torque of the electric motor goes from 199 pound-feet to 214 lb.-ft. The 2017 e-Golf runs zero to 60 mph faster than its predecessor—a modest 9.6 second. Top speed increases to 85 mph.
Based on 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, the EPA has estimated an annual fuel cost of just $550. A federal tax credit of up to $7,500 is available for purchasers; dependent on state, additional credits may be available. Sales of pure EVs are so minuscule that they aren’t even a footnote in the spreadsheets 2017 CYTD e-Golf sales are 2,512. During all of 2016, VW sold 3,937 e-Golf models.
New styling changes the overall appearance of the 2017 e-Golf with – yawn – new color options, and more significantly restyled bumpers, front fenders, headlights, grille, along with revised seat trim inside. There is more standard equipment: an 8-inch glass-covered touchscreen display, LED taillights, cruise control, a leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel, and the 7.2 kW on-board charger. A DC Fast Charging package is available for $995.
The e-Golf Limited Edition ($33,795 plus destination of $820) adds DC Fast Charging capability, V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, and Park Distance Control (ParkPilot), with a new feature called Maneuver Braking (arriving late in the model year), which can help driver avoid or mitigate the effects of a collision with stationary objects while parking.
The e-Golf SEL Premium ($36,995 plus destination of $820) has an optional Driver Assistance package ($1,395), including the 12.3-inch Volkswagen Digital Cockpit instrument cluster, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Forward Collision Warning with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Pedestrian Monitoring (Front Assist), Lane Assist, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, Park Assist and Light Assist. (Late availability for the Driver Assistance Package).
651 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen of America online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
