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With the roll-out of diesel bans and low emissions zones in urban environments across the globe, service industries are going to need zero-emissions delivery vehicles. And manufacturers are turning to their large vans to provide the solution. Hot on the heels of the Renault Master ZE and the forthcoming Mercedes eVito and eSprinter models, Volkswagen has launched the e-Crafter, an all-electric version of its largest van. The e-Crafter follows a similar template to its rivals, as it uses existing electric vehicle technology to produce a zero-emissions commercial vehicle for first-mile deliveries and other businesses that need to access locations within potential zero-emissions areas. But as the e-Crafter was developed at the same time as the diesel version, the Crafter platform has been optimised to accommodate its EV running gear. Under the skin, the e-Crafter uses the same 35.8kWh battery found in the VW e-Golf. Drive is supplied by a 134bhp electric motor that also has 290Nm of instant torque, while a single-speed gearbox drives the front wheels.
From the outside, our test model was marked out as the EV variant courtesy of its e-Crafter decals, but other than a few small blue badges, the standard e-Crafter is identical to a top-spec diesel Crafter in appearance. It's the same story in the cab, where the most obvious change is the replacement of the rev counter with the energy flow meter from the e-Golf. The e-Crafter starts with the same chime as the e-Golf, too, while a lack of a sound generator means the van pulls away making no noise at all - slightly unnerving if you're driving it in busy pedestrian areas. Thanks to the instant torque from its electric motor, the e-Crafter accelerates briskly, but it's limited to 90kmh (56mph), so is really at its best in urban areas. Lift off the throttle, and the e-Crafter loses speed gently like a manual van in gear, while the brake lights activate to warn other road users that you are slowing.
Unlike the Mercedes eSprinter, which has a harsher braking effect, there are no alternative modes, so if you want to freewheel in free-flowing traffic, that still requires you to add some throttle pedal to prevent the van losing speed. We tried e-Crafters with and without payloads, but the weight of the batteries under the load floor meant the ride was stable even when unladen, while the Crafter's surprisingly involving handling remained intact, too. Interestingly, the e-Crafter doesn't feature a battery-preserving Eco mode, so it's down to your own driving style to help you save energy. Of course, the crunch questions about the e-Crafter are about its operating range and price. VW claims that it has a range of 173 kilometres (107 miles) on a full charge, so you can expect a useable range of around 60 miles in everyday use. That places it firmly into the urban delivery zone, while VW offers all the usual functions such as pre-conditioning of the cabin and heated seats to help minimise battery use when on the move. Charging the battery from flat via the mains will take 17 hours, or just over five hours from a 7.2kW wallbox. The e-Crafter is compatible with the new CCS Combined Charging System as standard. This system allows the e-Crafter to be charged to 80 per cent capacity in 45 minutes, while the remaining 20 per cent can be topped up in another 20-30 minutes, depending on charging conditions. The e-Crafter goes on sale in Germany for 鈧?9,500 (拢63,000). While that's a fair amount of cash, it鈥檚 including sales tax and not considering regional discounts designed to promote EV use. And of course, the initial outlay is counterbalanced by the low running costs of an EV. Volkswagen has calculated that the e-Crafter uses 21.5kWh of energy per 100km when carrying a 975kg payload, which is equivalent to a 2.0 TDI diesel Crafter returning 135mpg with the same load on board.
The price isn't too high. However I don't see why you need to change the ECT sensor and thermostat at 80k. You should change the timing belt and coolant isn't a bad idea if you haven't done it in awhile. Changing the water pump at the same time as the timing belt has become a norm. But it depends if you've had any water pump issues or not. Napa,Checkers,Pepboys, places like that. For a dealership, that's about right. Are Volkswagen Jettas cool cars? I bought a 2000 VW Jetta bout 2 years ago. Runs good and was kept in great condition. Im 18 now and I am curious as to what other people think about Jettas. Do other people think that they look cool? Are they attractive in any way? German car at 18 is cool in itself. Jettas are very well liked cars in general. VW Jettas are the best, my wife and I have owned 3 Jettas they have always been the best choice. Cool and reliable car.
VW had been a laggard on electrification until it admitted in 2015 to cheating on U.S. Chinese quotas for EVs and tightening regulation in Europe. This prompted a strategic shift to zero-emission and self-driving technology, and VW has one of the most ambitious programmes in the industry. VW said earnings were driven by a growing share of sales of higher-margin models such as the redesigned Tiguan SUV and the Arteon fastback and increasing savings from VW's modular platforms. The carmaker forecast 2018 group sales to exceed moderately last year's record of 10.7 million vehicles. Group sales jumped 10 percent in January with demand up in all major world regions, showing that the emissions scandal has not dented VW's popularity among consumers. The company faced a new diesel scandal last month when it emerged that VW and other German carmakers had sponsored diesel fume tests involving monkeys and humans. Separately, management and the supervisory board on Friday proposed to raise the dividend for 2017 to 3.90 euros per common share and to 3.96 euros per preference share, from 2.00 euros and 2.06 euros respectively for the previous.
