The eighth-generation Volkswagen Golf will begin production in a few short months time, and VW has now taken the opportunity to share a little bit more information about what to expect from the company's best selling product. Namely, the Golf will debut an all-new mild hybrid system with 48-V technology in order to provide improved fuel economy. The same mild hybrid electric vehicle setup will eventually migrate to all VW models.
"Electrifying conventional drives will enable us to further reduce consumption and emissions while also increasing dynamics and convenience", says Dr Frank Welsch, Member of the Board of Management for Volkswagen Passenger Cars with responsibility for Technical Development. "We are starting this extensive electrification campaign with Volkswagen's best-selling vehicle to date – the Golf. Our newly developed, cost-effective 48-V mild hybrid will pave the way for introducing this type of technology to the mainstream". The company made the announcement at the International Vienna Motor Symposium, but was fairly broad with the details.
The company did say its combined combustion engine with a 48-V belt-integrated starter generator and a 48-V battery will make it possible to "coast" with the engine completely switched off, saving up to 0.3 litres of fuel over 100 kilometres. There will be a generator attached to the engine that will perform the role of alternator and starter, while also functioning as a small, lightweight electric motor that immediately increases drive torque by means of an electric boost. The power of the generator is transferred via a belt. The goal of the system is to switch off the engine "as much as possible while the vehicle is moving – in a barely perceptible way."
VW considers the 48-V system to be one of the best solutions moving forward as it's cost efficient and enables a considerable amount of energy to be recaptured via things like braking. The first MHEV Golfs will be going on sale in Europe next year, but who knows when they could make their way to North America.
