Volkswagen announced Tuesday that it will test 20 prototype E-Golf EVs over a nine-month period at several US locations. Some of the vehicles will go to Volkswagen employees, who will also receive 220-volt charging stations and iPhones with dedicated charging apps. The company hopes to gather valuable data on the effect of climate conditions, driving patterns, and energy performance, which it will use in the development of future EV models.

“During this test we will examine in detail all the technical and administrative aspects of typical consumers using electric vehicles on an everyday basis,” said Dr Rudolf Krebs, head of Volkswagen’s E-Traction Group. “For a successful market launch of electric vehicles, the way that home chargers are handled is very important, along with easy access to public charging infrastructure. For the US, we also have to recognize the specific legal regulations as well as the different characteristics of the electricity supply: both the reduced 110-volt mains supply and the type of charging plugs.”

The E-Golf looks like any four-door Golf, and seats five. It has an electric motor that delivers 199 pound-feet of torque, and a 26.5-kWh lithium-ion battery that consists of 180 cells. The estimated range is 93 miles.

Image: Volkswagen