Updated Volkswagen e-Golf powers into U.K. showrooms nationwide

Since its launch in 2014, the Volkswagen e-Golf has been at the forefront of the German manufacturer's electric vehicle offering. In its latest guise the zero-emission e-Golf has new battery technology, revised styling and a host of connectivity features both in the car and in the customer's hand via their smartphone.

Volkswagen has enhanced the efficiency of the zero-emission e-Golf and the result is a real driving range increase of 50% compared to the outgoing model. A range of 300km is quoted from the official New European Driving Cycle while with driving style and other parameters considered, the range is effectively 200km.

This is achieved thanks to an increase in the energy capacity of the e-Golf's lithium-ion battery from 24.2kWh to 35.8kWh. Power is increased to 100kW (134bhp), up 15kW from the previous generation e-Golf. That means performance figures are improved too, with a 0-100km/h time of 9.6 seconds and a top speed, where the law permits, of 150km/h.

Torque is boosted from 270Nm to 290Nm. As before, drive is via a single-speed gearbox. When the e-Golf needs charging, the battery can go from empty to 80% full in just 45 minutes when a 40kW DC rapid charger connection is used. Alternatively, charging from empty to full from a wallbox charger takes approximately five hours and 20 minutes, which opens up the opportunity to charge the car conveniently during the working day or overnight.