Volkswagen to unveil new commercially available electric car

German car manufacturer Volkswagen is set to unveil a new one-seater vehicle, powered by an electric powertrain, which has the potential to emit zero emissions. The VW concept vehicle is being seen as a further example of the industry’s commitment to the development of electric vehicles and how it is taking reducing carbon emissions seriously.

"It's a new kind of mobility, a new vehicle concept. Also, its physics," said VW’s head of research, Jurgen Leohold talking to the Financial Times. "If you limit a car to one person, you can make it smaller with less weight. You need less energy to transport the person, and then ... it can be better on CO2 and fuel efficiency." The head of VW research also stated how the cars C02 count would depend on the type of electricity used for the battery, noting that if renewable sources were used then it would be zero.

Leohold adds that the car, to be unveiled in Berlin on September 8th, will be “even better” than the diesel-electric plug-in hybrid, XL1 Super Efficient Vehicle. However, Leohold declined to reveal any features that the car would boast and the sort of speeds it would be capable of, but he did reveal that the prototype would be specifically designed for shorter journeys.

As part of the package that will be offered to customers purchasing one of VW’s electric cars, the German firm will provide a “full-service package” by offering them power exclusively from renewable resources. VW also plan to have at least 3 percent of its overall car sales made up of battery-powered vehicles by 2018, with electric versions of current models expected soon.

Last month the company came under scrutiny from environmental campaigners Greenpeace, who claimed that VW were misleading in its claims to be the most environmentally car manufacturer. However, next months unveiling is being seen as means to an end in terms of the damage caused by the environmental campaign.