VW Golf 1.5TDI "Twindrive" Plug-in Hybrid!

ARCJr · October 14th, 2009, 04:04

Title says it all!
http://blogs.motortrend.com/6566713/...-in/index.html

donfromnaples · October 14th, 2009, 14:08

The car was introduced as a concept in '08 with production promised in 2011. I just hope it is not listed at $40000 like the Volt.

TurbinePower · October 14th, 2009, 15:20

I dunno, I'm kinda leery of the fact that it's only a single-speed gearbox for the combustion engine.

vw4life · October 14th, 2009, 16:01

I absolutely LOVE the idea, but considering all VWs problems:

-1.8t coil packs
-window regulators
-VR6 chain guides
-ceramic glow plugs
-bad relay 109s
-coked up intakes
-worn out PD camshafts even with 505.01 oils
-terrible chain drive balance shaft modules in BHWs
-V6 TDI's with a zillion chains at the back of the engine
-forgot to add bad autobox's
-DMF failures
-more?

can we really expect a reliable diesel/electric hybrid from VW?

eb2143 · October 14th, 2009, 17:35

I find it amusing that after all this hype and press surrounding the Volt over the last _ years (4, 5?), VW has quietly produced 20 working prototypes with a more logical engine and layout.

DickSilver · October 14th, 2009, 19:21

This is promising. I have already determined that I will not buy another internal-combustion car. My next one will be from the next level of technology in development. Twin Drive looks like a candidate!!

Torqued off · October 14th, 2009, 20:14

Very similar to the Volt but instead of the generator providing the electricity to the electric motor when the battery is done the diesel engine takes over and powers the vehicle. Hopefully they can get the 30 miles on battery up to 40 since that figure covers 85% of all work commuters which could make for a gas/diesel free weekly commute.
I would imagine that the battery can kick on to help the diesel for short blasts of extra needed power just like the Volt.
Does anyone else think it's very strange that once gas prices soared in the U.S. we get all kinds of cool new technology even though the fuel prices have been much higher in Europe for years. You would think, at the very least, some of the German car companies would have come up with some of these promising solutions a long time ago. I guess the real breakthrough to help move this technology along are the Lipo batteries.

TDIMeister · October 15th, 2009, 00:16

Volkswagen to combine diesel and hybrid tech to improve efficiency

wolfskin · October 15th, 2009, 03:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurbinePower

I dunno, I'm kinda leery of the fact that it's only a single-speed gearbox for the combustion engine.

Hmmm, me too at first glance, but consider: Say the diesel is couplet at 35mph, at an engine speed of 1200rpm.
At this rpm, the diesel would be aided by the electric motor too, draining electricity from the battery, if you want to accelerate.
As you accelerate past 1500rpm, the diesel needs no more help, as it can reach it's maximum torque figure, and probably maintain it up to 3500rpm. By that point you're already at 100mph, which is probably faster than you should be driving anyway if you're one to care about fuel efficiency (if not, you'll just buy the GTI)

BeetleGo · October 15th, 2009, 04:52

After they have been selling 'em for a decade, I would consider buying one.

Pelican18TQA4 · October 15th, 2009, 05:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torqued off

Very similar to the Volt but instead of the generator providing the electricity to the electric motor when the battery is done the diesel engine takes over and powers the vehicle. Hopefully they can get the 30 miles on battery up to 40 since that figure covers 85% of all work commuters which could make for a gas/diesel free weekly commute.
I would imagine that the battery can kick on to help the diesel for short blasts of extra needed power just like the Volt.
Does anyone else think it's very strange that once gas prices soared in the U.S. we get all kinds of cool new technology even though the fuel prices have been much higher in Europe for years. You would think, at the very least, some of the German car companies would have come up with some of these promising solutions a long time ago. I guess the real breakthrough to help move this technology along are the Lipo batteries.

I would be using the TDI to recharge the battery/power the car everyday as my commute is 34 miles one-way. However, I'm sure this car would still better the fuel economy that my fuel-sipping TDI gets.

As for fuel prices in Europe, they have dealt with it be introducing smaller and more efficient engines. TDIs are everywhere in Europe, as are small displacement gasser engines. I would be curious to find out what the average national fuel economy is in say Germany, compared to the U.S. I wouldn't be surprised if it's almost double that of the U.S.

09tdi · October 15th, 2009, 06:35

electrical bill is higher than gasoline bill per mile

Powder Hound · October 15th, 2009, 07:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by DickSilver

... I have already determined that I will not buy another internal-combustion car. ... Twin Drive looks like a candidate!!

Uuuhhh... In case you hadn't noticed, the twin drive has an internal combustion engine in it. You don't absolutely have to use it, but it is there. Is this a compromise on your part?

wolfskin · October 15th, 2009, 07:15

Pelican, I only found this: it's 37.8 mpg combined for UK (I suppose those are imp gallons), 28 urban, 47 extra-urban.

Also, from 2012, EU also has a sort of CAFE standard of 130g/km CO2 emmission, which corrsponds to 52mpg US for diesel and 47mpg US for gasoline.

flatopete · October 15th, 2009, 07:17

Did anyone else notice the gauges?

http://blogs.motortrend.com/6566713/.../photo_02.html

Kilowatt meter in place of Tachometer (w/ growing "redline" from 75 - 125 kW AND another -10 to -20 kW, assuming the graduations are the same below 0 kW)

Someone with better knowledge can probably explain what this exactly shows. Is the meter giving the amount of power sent to (used by?) the electric motor(s) or is it showing the electric motor's calculated output (I've seen electric motors with a horsepower figure listed for the "output", I realize there are many different types of electric motors). Note that 1.0 kilowatt ~ 1.34 horsepower, both are units of power ("mechanical" horsepower here, like is commonly given in the states, not metric or Pferdestärke).
http://www.americanmachinist.com/Cal...rseToKilo.aspx

Also, what about the negative kW? How should the "redlines" be interpreted? Can the electric motor(s) sustain damage at extended use in the high positive or -10 to -20 kW ranges?

A similar gauge replaces the Tach in the '09 Lexus GS 450h yet this one does not read negative kW like the VW's nor does it have a "redline"
http://lexusenthusiast.com/2009/04/2...s-450h-review/

Also there is a battery state-of-charge meter in place of the coolant temperature gauge.

As an aside, what is with the umlaut above the "i" in Twin on the graphics? I don't recall ever seeing this in written German? It is not used on the badges. Perhaps the club members aus Deutschland can chime in on this (or ignore it, I don't mean to open a can of worms)