Volkswagen has put its upcoming electric ID.3 to the test, in a drive from the company’s Zwickau factory in Germany, where it was made, to the Switzerland. It says it has come through with flying colours.
Although the ID.3 release has been delayed, reportedly plagued with software issues, Volkswagen maintains that a European autumn release is on track.
And as it looks to the release of the first of its all-new electric ID series, it is undertaking a series of “lifestyle” marketing exercises aimed at proving the usability and viability of the ID.3.
This has included a road trip by Volkswagen chair Herbert Diess, who has documented his family road trip in the ID.3 on networking site LinkedIn.
Volkswagen has also shared another road trip undertaken by “efficiency master” Felix Egolf to Switzerland, in which he drove the ID.3 – which has 420km driving range according to the WLTP standard – a total of 531km on a single charge.
Yes, “Egolf” is his surname (the e-Golf being Volkswagen’s successful electric vehicle model sold in Europe, as well as over the pond in New Zealand!), but media reports place him testing mileage and efficiency for other car makers such as Opel and Mitsubishi, so we’ll put that down to coincidence.
Volkswagen relates Egolf’s drive in the ID.3, which heads southwards from Zwickau to Schaffhausen, Switzerland via the German town of Hof.
The car maker reports that Egolf left auxiliary devices including navigation, daytime running lights, radio and ventilation all on, and used where possible the slipstream of trucks to his advantage.
The hilly area of Fichtelgebirge allowed plenty of regenerative coasting, and Volkswagen reports that Egolf climbed the inclines gently to ensure range was not reduced by using too much power.
According to Volkswagen, Egolf “describes the cockpit with its large central display that is slightly tilted towards the driver as intuitive and functional. He also likes Volkswagen’s new e-car because of its futuristic design, low drag coefficient and the 204 PS, which propels the vehicle practically silently and jet-like via the rear-wheel drive.”
“In addition, the road holding, cornering and rolling characteristics are exemplary,” Egolf was quoted as saying.
Although when reaching Hof (87km from Zwickau and 444km from Schaffhausen), the range said 346km, Volkswagen reports that the “efficiency master” achieved the full trip without needing to recharge.
Like Hyundai’s “record range test” for the Kona Electric as reported by The Driven recently, it is clear that car makers are keen to show the potential driving range of their EV models – if driven conservatively.
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the ID.3 will be launched in the European spring.
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.