Skip to main content

VW ups its use of plug-in hybrid technology

At last week's 32nd International Vienna Motor Symposium, the chairman of the Volkswagen Group, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, announced that the group will be going into production with a range of important models with plug-in hybrid technology starting in 2013/14.
May 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
%$Linker: 2 Internal 4 9782 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Events (Diary) false /rss/events/ true false%>At last week’s 32nd International Vienna Motor Symposium, the chairman of the 994 Volkswagen Group, Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, announced that the group will be going into production with a range of important models with plug-in hybrid technology starting in 2013/14.

“The electric car will impact the future of individual mobility in crucial ways – and Volkswagen is spearheading this technology. Over the mid-term, the plug-in hybrid offers great potential, because it combines the best of two worlds in one vehicle,” said Winterkorn. The plug-in hybrid offers precisely what many customers expect: unlimited internal combustion engine performance combined with attractive electric mobility ranges in everyday driving. Moreover, Winterkorn noted that there are no limitations to the vehicle’s speed, climbing or towing abilities. He also stated that plug-in technology has excellent potential for reducing CO2 emissions.

“Electric mobility is the task of the century for the automotive industry and the European industrial community as a whole. Manufacturers, suppliers, energy providers, scientists and politicians – everyone must step up to the plate here,” said the Volkswagen chairman. Winterkorn spoke in support of more targeted research funding, especially in the field of electro-chemistry for battery technology.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • IRF publishes comprehensive safety journal
    March 25, 2014
    The International Road Federation (IRF) is now publishing its new quarterly journal featuring peer reviewed technical contributions by leading industry professionals. Called the IRF Examiner, this freely available publication addresses innovative road safety applications ranging from school zone safety projects in Abu Dhabi to rumble strips on rural highways.
  • SolarBright’s studs send ice warning to drivers
    March 26, 2014
    A new smart road stud from New Zealand-based company SolarBright can warn drivers of potentially icy roads and will soon be able to alert traffic management centres and maintenance depots of the treacherous conditions. Once installed in the road the solar-powered studs monitor humidity and temperature and if the temperature drops to 4°C or below the blue LEDs in the stud start to flash to alert drivers of the possibility of ice formation.
  • ACS debuts Alcolock V3 alcohol ignition interlock device
    October 23, 2012
    Making its ITS World Congress debut is Canadian company ACS – Alcohol Countermeasure System – with its Alcolock V3 alcohol ignition interlock The device has been around since 2008 and requires drivers to breath into the device before setting off on a journey. If the driver’s breath contains alcohol, the engine ignition system will not work. (Residual amounts of alcohol, such as those found in some mouthwashes, are allowable.) It has been mandatory for Alcolock to be fitted to public vehicles in Sweden such
  • Tertu launches new N2W2 guardrail system
    March 22, 2018
    French road guardrail specialist Tertu Equipements is using Intertraffic as the debut show for its new T32 system, the company’s first entry in the N2W2 category. The company has had products in the N2W3 category before. It is now able to reach the required level of performance with a 2m 66cm spacing between posts. Previously, this had a post spacing of 2m. The T32 also uses a 16cm diameter half-log as the facing for the guardrail rather than the 22cm used previously. The combination of these factors