Volkswagen took the covers off a new prototype electric vehicle Monday, one that’s capable of hitting the equivalent of 323 miles per gallon under ideal conditions, making it one of the most efficient cars in the world. It’s not unusual for automakers to float pie-in-the-sky concepts with outlandish stats, but Volkswagen took it a step or two further by building the EV and driving it from its home base in Wolfsburg, Germany, on a 794-mile (1,278-kilometer) trip to Vienna. The team charged the Mission Efficiency prototype once during the journey and arrived with 104 miles (168 kilometers) of range left, resulting in consumption of 7.51 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles, or about 279 MPGe.
The teardrop-shaped Mission Efficiency prototype was built using the electric motor and battery from the ID. Polo, two features that bring the car to “near production” status, Volkswagen said in a press release. For those keeping score, the prototype is almost twice as efficient as the most efficient production car in the world, the Lucid Air Pure.
By some back-of-the-envelope math, Volkswagen’s science experiment can get more than 400 miles of range out of a 54.9-kilowatt-hour battery, though that’s not an official rating. Lucid gets 420 miles from an 84-kilowatt-hour battery per ratings, but it’s a much larger and more practical vehicle. Volkswagen had to make some compromises in the name of efficiency.
The most noticeable is the roofline, which tapers quickly after peaking above the driver’s head. The shape, known as a Kammback, is among the most aerodynamic shapes a vehicle can take. Volkswagen was able to bring the coefficient of drag down to 0.158, while also keeping the frontal area low at just 2.08 square meters.
As a result, the Mission Efficiency is technically a 2+2, meaning the rear seats aren’t suitable for most adults. Volkswagen said the backseat is designed for people shorter than 5-foot 3 inches, or about 1.6 meters. Another compromise sits closer to the road.
Because wheels and tires can contribute about a quarter to a third of aerodynamic drag, the designers tightened the space between the wheel arches and the front tires. It’s great for efficiency, but probably not great for ride quality since wheels need space to move inside the wheel wells so the shocks can absorb bumps. One place Volkswagen didn’t compromise was the mirrors.
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