2017 Volkswagen e-Golf Release Date, Specs News: Electric Driving Range Now at 125 Miles per Charge

By Georgia Gana, Christian Post Contributor Saturday, February 25, 2017

The 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf is scheduled to arrive at dealerships this spring and the next-generation electric vehicle based on the German automaker's popular electric car will come with improved driving range and fuel economy.

The latest iteration of the e-Golf features a new 35.8-kWh lithium-ion battery with increased energy capacity. According to the automaker, this translates to an EPA-estimated 125 miles of all-electric driving range on a single charge, which is a significant improvement compared to last year's 24.2-kWh battery that had an 83-mile driving range. Furthermore, highway driving has a rating of 111 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe) while combined city and highway driving is rated at 119 MPGe.

The battery pack can be replenished using the 7.2-kW onboard charger, which is now standard on the SE, SEL and Premium trims. It will take less than six hours to charge using a 240-volt charging station. Meanwhile, fast charging, which is optional for the SE but standard for SEL and Premium, allows the battery to be charged up to 80 percent within an hour.

The 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf also comes with an upgraded 100-kW electric motor that delivers 134 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of torque. Compared with last year's model, the electric compact car has 19 more horsepower and 15 more pound-feet of torque. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour (mph) in 9.6 seconds and attains a top speed of 93 mph.

Overall, consumers will only have to pay around 13 cents per kilowatt-hour, which leads to an EPA-estimated annual fuel cost of only $550.

Aside from improved performance, the 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf features redesigned front and rear fasciae with available full-LED headlights and standard LED taillights. Inside, the cabin also receives a new 8-inch Discover Media infotainment system and the Volkswagen Digital Cockpit.

Available driver-assistive technologies include Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring, Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor Plus with Rear Traffic Alert, Lane Departure Warning and High Beam Control.

Pricing will be announced closer to the official launch.