Volkswagen E-Bugster Roadster Concept Is Drop-Top, Zero Emission Fun

Believe it or not, the unassuming Volkswagen Beetle convertible pictured above runs on pure electricity courtesy of an 80 kg battery, not the petrol-powered engines found on the road today. It’s called the E-Bugster, and it looks like much more than a moonshot concept car.

Without a doubt, the E-Bugster looks fantastic, being based off the production VW Beetle. It has a height of less than 1,400 mm, which is about 90 mm less than that of the sculpted, shapely hard-top Beetle. The E-Bugster’s width (1,838 mm) grew by 30 mm, while its length (4,278 mm) remained the same as that of the production car. The results are a dynamic presence from every angle.

The energy for powering the electric motor itself is stored in a lithium-ion battery whose modules are housed in a space-saving location behind the front seats. The battery’s energy capacity of 28.3 kWh enables a range of at least  in the urban world before needing to charge. But since the E-Bugster concept has a quick charging function, the battery can recharge within 35 minutes at fast charging stations. At home, the battery of the E-Bugster can also be charged from a conventional electric outlet — the kinds that perhaps power your television, or computer. The interface for the charge cable is located behind the C-pillar, just like a conventional gasoline Beetle. The battery also recharges via a process called “regenerative braking”, where kinetic energy lost in applying the brakes is transferred back into the battery, where it prolongs the electric range. Volkswagen calls the electrical system Blue-e-Motion.

The E-Bugster’s charging system utilizes a uniform industry standard for the connectors of future electric vehicles that will be available to all manufacturers. And this standardisation goes beyond the plug itself: in the Combined Charging System, the charge controller and the electrical architecture must be able to handle all charging types. This will reduce costs and simplify widespread global implementation of electric mobility.

Sport seats and a continuous centre tunnel in body colour underscore the sportiness of the E-Bugster. The use of aluminium as the material for the door handles and belt guides, and the lightweight construction styling of the steering wheel also produce a direct connection between the exterior and interior. Starting the E-Bugster is a unique experience: the Start button not only activates the drive system; it also puts a light show into motion: first, the interior is immersed in a white light, then a blue light. It begins as a light pulse in the instrument cluster; from there the light emanates as a thin line of light, just one millimetre wide, coursing into the door window sills and around the air nozzles – a kind of visual awakening of the E-Bugster.

Will we ever see the E-Bugster in the Pfaff Volkswagen lot next to the new Beetle? It doesn’t seem to be a moonshot. Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below or share them on our Facebook page.