The VW Golf is not only the pioneer of the compact middle class and one of the world’s best-selling cars of all time. Actually, the car also had a pioneering role in the electrification of individual mobility, and VW was already working on electric drive systems using the Golf I as a basis in 1976. The company responded to the oil crisis that had just ended with an electric version, two years after launching what would go on to be its flagship model. Later on, there would be an electric option for almost every generation. For a long time, however, interest was limited.
1976: e-Golf I
Only test vehicles were produced in the first electric Golf project, but an awareness of the finite nature of global oil reserves had become apparent for the first time. From a technical perspective, the e-Golf was still quite simple in its design: instead of the 75 hp petrol engine, a DC electric motor was installed and connected to the standard four-speed gearbox. The 16 six-volt lead batteries were supplied with power by an on-board charger via the normal 220-volt socket. This charging process took approximately 12 hours.
Source: Volkswagen AG
1981: Golf I CitySTROMer
Five years later, things became a bit more serious. Together with the “Society for Electric Road Traffic” (GES), founded by the energy supplier RWE, a pilot project was again launched with the Golf I. Around 25 Golf CitySTROMer electric cars were produced in a small series and used as a fleet vehicle at RWE and for private use by employees. This model also used lead batteries and weighed around 1.5 tonnes. With its range of almost 60 kilometres, it can be described as one of the first electric vehicles suitable for everyday use.
1985: Golf II CitySTROMer
A CitySTROMer version of the second-generation Golf was also produced, based in principle on the same technology as the predecessor model. Some 70 models of the Golf CitySTROMer II were built and made available to various energy producers for testing purposes and practical experience. The Golf CitySTROMer II cars were mainly used in customer service and were later sold to private individuals. A hybrid version of the Golf II was also available for the first time. From 1990, AMAG supported a fleet trial involving 20 parallel hybrid vehicles in collaboration with ETH Zurich. The batteries of the Golf II hybrid only kept the electric motor going for around 25 kilometres, however, which meant it was not yet ready for the market. There was also a CitySTROMer version of the sister model VW Jetta II.
Source: Volkswagen AG
1993: Golf III CitySTROMer
When the Golf III was launched, VW collaborated with Siemens to release a new edition of the CitySTROMer. A total of 120 units rolled off the production line and went on sale to the general public between 1993 and 1996. A maximum range of 90 kilometres was possible at a constant speed of 50 km/h, and it took one and a half hours to charge the battery up to 80 per cent. The storage and charging technology available at the time was less efficient than it is today. The model already made use of brake energy regeneration, however, which is standard in modern electric vehicles. On the Baltic Sea island of Rügen, several Golf III CitySTROMers were put to a practical test under tough conditions and enabled important information to be gained for the further development of electric cars. Two VW Golf III CitySTROMers were also involved in a large-scale trial of light electric vehicles (LEM) in Mendrisio.
Source: Volkswagen AG
2010: Golf VI blue-e-motion
The Golf blue-e-motion presented by VW at the e-mobility summit in Berlin in 2010 represented a major technological leap. The electric car based on the sixth-generation Golf was only tested as a prototype in fleet trials. The Golf blue-e-motion was fitted with lithium-ion batteries and a high-voltage fast charging system. It also had a recuperation mode and three driving profiles that had an impact on dynamics and range.
2013: e-Golf
The e-Golf, based on the Golf VII, went down in history as the first fully electric VW model to be mass-produced. The powerful synchronous electric motor produced 270 Nm of torque, and the lithium-ion battery and the entire drive system were proprietary developments installed in the vehicle floor. At a charging station with a Combined Charging System, the battery could be recharged to 80 per cent of its capacity in just 20 minutes. And when the Golf VII was given a facelift, the e-Golf was also updated. The power of the engine was increased to 100 kW/136 hp, torque and acceleration were improved, and the range was increased to a maximum of 300 kilometres.
