VW NILS EV concept

The all-electric Volkswagen single seat NILS has a range of 65 kilometers (approximately 40 miles) and a top speed of 80 mph.

The NILS is 3.04m long, and is just 0.39m wide from wheel to wheel and a mere 1.2m tall.

The design has the same basic layout as a F1 car, with the driver in the middle, the engine at the back, and free-standing outboard wheels. The vehicle features an aluminium space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels.

The 460 kg concept can accelerate to 100 kph in less than 11 seconds, and is powered by a reasonably small electric motor weighing 19 kg offering a nominal 15 kW (and short-term peak power of 25 kW), working with a one-speed transmission.

A 5.3 kWh lithium-ion battery supplies the juice, and can be charged either via a conventional 230V electrical outlet – with a maximum charging time of two hours – or at an electric vehicle charging station. The socket is located at the back underneath the rear lighting module, and all drive unit components are located compactly in an aluminium housing at the rear of NILS; drive is to the rear wheels.
And safety – a contentious issue with small electric vehicles – gets a serious look in. The aluminium space frame body has been engineered to be a strong safety cell that incorporates roll over and side impact protection. There’s high-tech safety in the form of automatic distance control, which maintains a safe distance to the car in front. It can even automatically brake the car to a stop at speeds of less than 18mph.

A clever idea for a commuter car, beautifully executed, one that pushes the aesthetics of efficiency to the limit. This looks like the future of urban commuting.