The boxy-but-cool looking Volkswagen E-Co-Motion debuted at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Featuring a modular underfloor drive unit that consists of a battery, motor and gearbox that can be paired to different cab and/or body configurations, Volkswagen’s concept could be a hint that the compact electric Nissan E-NV200 will have some market competition.
The Volkswagen E-Co-Motion concept uses a rear mounted electric motor rated at 113 hp and 199 lb-ft of torque. Since the drive wheels are in the back, the front wheels can turn extra tights, resulting in an important-for-city-driving small turning circle of just 29.3 feet.
Using a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, the E-Co-Motion electric minivan has a driving range of 62 miles. Volkswagen says a 30 kWh battery pack could provide 93 miles of electric range, while a 40 kWh pack would provide up to 124 miles of pure electric driving.
The battery box was designed with integrated cross members and rib structure so that it can serve a secondary purpose as a load-bearing body element – all to say, it helps reduce vehicle weight.
Using features such as a dash located drive-mode selection knob rather than a shifter, eliminating the hand brake and adding a flip-up passenger seat, the compact electric minivan allows easy driver entry from both sides of the vehicle.
Check out this pile of Volkswagen E-Co-Motion pictures from the Geneva Motor Show:
