Friday 2nd September 2011

VW NILS: The Future Of Fun Commuting?

Volkswagen seems to reckon so...

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Seems like the new big thing in motoring concepts is the 'fun' electric city car. Hot on the heels of the Audi Urban concept is this, the VW NILS, which is also due to be unveiled at the Frankfurt motor show in a couple of weeks time.

It is a single-seat electric concept built around an aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels and has a 40-mile range and an 80mph top speed. The NILS has, says VW "the dynamic performance of a sports car, yet travels silently, and with zero emissions."

The 460kg NILS with its lithium ion battery and 19kg mid-mounted electric motor can also accelerate to 62mph in a reasonable 11secs.

Sounds quite fun to us, though for dicing with city centre traffic on the morning commute, you'd probably find a powerful scooter to be a more effective tool. As PH editor Chris-R pointed out, however, you'd probably rather drive round in a VW or an Audi...

[Denorth]

1. takes way too much space on the road for single-seat car

2. it's an urban car, why would it need 80mph top speed? most roads are limited to 30mph with just few that allow to drive at 50/60mph.

it's a good exersise for designers... another fk-up for drivers

[mkn1ght]

You can't climb into a scooter when it's raining.

Point re the 80mph top speed, Anyone commuting along any motorway would find a top speed of 30mph a bit frustrating*.

• if not lethally slow.

[Caulkhead]

"zero emissions"

[dxg]

I don't think VW's heart is in this. They're all about their 3L models, most recently the Up! Lite:



and before that:



and before that:

[Perd Hapley]

40 mile range is terrible just make one the ^^ above ^^, VW.

[Fer]

Sliding or scissor doors would make more sense than the wing doors, especially if you are going to try and make use of smaller parking spaces, or even bike bays if it can get classed that way.

[thinfourth2]

Double the range and i would buy it

[Hugo a Gogo]

dxg said:

I don't think VW's heart is in this. They're all about their 3L models, most recently the Up! Lite:



and before that:



and before that:

those 2nd two cars are one litre/100km cars, not 3

dunno about that up! lite, but it should be better economy than an old Lupo, surely?

[rampageturke]

silly, electric isnt the future.

Not by a long shot

[Andrew[MG]]

1 seater...so you can't give anyone a lift. Pointless.

[thinfourth2]

Andrew[MG] said:

1 seater...so you can't give anyone a lift. Pointless.

Thats in the plus side for me

No passengers

[900T-R]

Denorth said:

1. takes way too much space on the road for single-seat car

Not if you want to retain any sort of dynamic aptitude.

[soad]

dxg said:

Why the covered rear wheel? I never unserstood that, design feature?
Looks horrible imo

[OwenK]

soad said:

Why the covered rear wheel? I never unserstood that, design feature?
Looks horrible imo

Aerodynamic benefit, airflow interacting with rotating wheels cause a disproportionately high amount of drag.

[dtmpower]

soad said:

Why the covered rear wheel? I never unserstood that, design feature?
Looks horrible imo

reduces drag.

[soad]

Alright, i see - thanks.

[entwisi]

make the body "lean" bike style to make flicking through twisties more fun, 150 mile range ( or small onboard super efficient genny so I can recharge it whilst slaving at my desk ready for the journey home ) and available for < 10 K and I'm in...

[rxtx]

Silent cars in built up areas are not a good idea.

[Bacon Is Proof]

Free standing wheels?
If you have to point out that the wheels on a car won't fall over, then I can guarantee the rest of the car is going to be ste.

[XitUp]

rampageturke said:

silly, electric isnt the future.

Not by a long shot

It is part of the future.