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EV & Sustainability

Volkswagen sets three records with Mission Efficiency concept

The Mission Efficiency has set records for the lowest energy consumption and the lowest coefficient of drag.

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Volkswagen Mission Efficiency
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Volkswagen has set three world records with the Mission Efficiency, a ‘near-production’ electric concept car.

The Mission Efficiency has set records for the lowest energy consumption during an ‘ideal trip’, the lowest coefficient of drag, and the most economical near-production vehicle in it class.

The car achieved energy consumption of 6.48kWh per 100km, setting a record for an ‘ideal trip’, where the speed remains constant at 68kmh (42mph), there are no uphill slopes, and ancillaries such as air conditioning are deactivated.

On a 1,278.36km (794-mile) test drive, the car achieved real-world consumption of 7.51kWh per 100km including charging losses, or 6.89kWh per 100km without.

The car’s 54.9kWh battery was charged once during the trip, and had 164km (102 miles) of range remaining on arrival.

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Volkswagen used the ID. Polo‘s electric motor and battery in the Mission Efficiency.

It has a coefficient of drag of 0.158, allowing for 30% lower energy consumption when compared with the ID. Polo.

This was achieved through the car’s teardrop shape, small frontal area, rear wheel covers, frameless windows, and specifically-developed Continental tyres.

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Solar panels are integrated into the glass roof and bootlid to power electrical systems, which Volkswagen said can increase range by up to 30km per day in ideal circumstances, through reduced load on the vehicle’s battery.

Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, head of the Brand Group Core and member of the group board of management at Volkswagen, said: “Mission Efficiency is the ideal way to demonstrate what distinguishes Volkswagen in the electric age: technology for the masses – not just for the few.

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“Rather than using specialist technology, the vehicle set its three world records using affordable production technology from the ID. Polo and ID. Cross, based on the MEB+ platform with front-wheel drive.

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“This shows how much potential efficiency we can add to the latest generation of our electric cars. Developed in Wolfsburg and built by Kai Grünitz and his team, the Mission Efficiency is a symbol of German engineering expertise with clear customer benefits.”

Kai Grünitz, board member for technical development, at the Volkswagen brand and Brand Group Core, said: “The new Mission Efficiency impressively demonstrates the incredible potential of the drive system in our new ID. Polo.

“Developed for all models based on MEB+ with front-wheel drive, the system is extremely light, very efficient and thus the ideal drive system for our record-breaking vehicle.

“The Wolfsburg team behind the Mission Efficiency has achieved something outstanding: on the one hand, the crew has proved that Volkswagen is one of the world’s leading manufacturers in the area of aerodynamics.

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“On the other hand, they are also showing that you can build the most efficient car in the world using affordable, large-scale production technology.”

Visually, the car was intended to resemble Volkswagen’s other electric vehicles (EVs), as well as the XL1, a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) previously produced by the brand, which was the most economical production car in the world upon its release in 2013.

The Mission Efficiency is larger, with 2+2 seating, compared with the offset two-seat layout of the XL1.

Andreas Mindt, chief designer at Volkswagen, said: “With its front end, the Mission Efficiency slots into our new family of EVs, which also includes the ID. Polo and ID. Cross.

“The shape of the body itself is committed fully to functionality and thus the laws of aerodynamics. This has resulted in a state-of-the-art, efficient sports car in which the DNA of the legendary Volkswagen XL1 shines through.”

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