Dr Herbert Diess, Chairman of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management, said: “The Volkswagen Brand will be investing 6 billion euros in electric mobility over the next five years. Our task is to make modern technology available to many people. This is especially important in times of technological transformation. One thing is clear: The Golf […]
Volkswagen unveils I.D. CROZZ electric SUV concept Read More »
Another week goes by with the Optima PHEV and in many ways, testament to the car is the fact there’s precious little to report. The car just keeps on rewarding me with nothing exciting to say. Had this been any lesser car, there might have been mention of the odd gripe – and don’t get
Wk10 & 11. Wales and driving sans plug Read More »
On a particularly cold summer evening, I decided to put the electric range of the Kia Optima PHEV (Optima Prime) to the test. It has always stated 31-miles on the display, although I’ve managed to eke 32-miles with relative ease after driving carefully and at town speeds up to 30mph. In traffic or urban driving
Wk9. Motorway EV driving Read More »
I have finally covered 1,000 miles in ‘Optima Prime’ (Kia Optima PHEV) and I’m impressed. Passing the milestone took a while to reach, partly because I have access to other cars and partly because my daily commute is only 12-miles. Coincidentally, the car had its first fuel fill since brand new too, which was an
Wk8. 1,000 miles, 93.1mpg Read More »
Since having Optima Prime on long term test, it’s purpose has been – quite simply – to replace my daily driver. And it has done this remarkably well. To date, I’ve not yet had to visit the petrol forecourt to fill her up, thanks to its highly usable 30-mile range. While other plug-in hybrids fib
Wk6 & 7. Beyond electric range Read More »
In this, our third anniversary issue, we go a little off piste and introduce you to the exciting world of drone racing. Ever wanted to participate in Formula E but couldn’t because you’re not a pro racing driver? This is the next best thing. It’s fast, furious exciting and – with technology – first person
Autovolt magazine July-August 2017 Read More »
Another week, another improvement in fuel economy for the Kia Optima PHEV (‘Optima Prime’). Since the week before, plenty of short trips and warmer weather meant that electric-only mode has been deployed on pretty well every journey I’ve done in the last week. It’s the way the cookie crumbles, so to speak. Part of the
Wk5. A plug-in hybrid comparison Read More »
Following the previous week’s petrol journeys I was keen this week to improve on fuel consumption. While in most non-plug-in cars (including other non-plug-in hybrids) this would necessitate driving like James May; throttling back at every opportunity and crawling along the road 50% slower than the speed limit, in the Optima PHEV this isn’t the
Wk4. Addicted to electric driving Read More »
One of the many advantages of driving under electric power is enhanced sound. What I mean by this is that as a driver, I’m better able to hear my surroundings. While many still believe electric cars to be silent, the reality is their quieter drive mechanicals make it possible to hear tyres squealing, brakes squeezing
Wk3. Electrifying sound Read More »
When talking economy, a car’s weight is important. The lighter the car, the less energy required to move it. Simple. And so, engineers take great efforts to reduce weight where they can. Of course, it’s always a battle with the accountants who will want to use cheaper and potentially heavier materials for a job than
Wk2. Economy versus weight Read More »
