Volkswagen e-Up 2013 Review

It's a well-known if shakily founded maxim that diabolical results come in threes. Last week, as the nation reeled from the Wallabies’ bottomless capacity to disappoint and the Socceroos’ wretchedness, we could but wonder what fresh hell awaited.

Fear not, as the above results numbly registered Carsguide took it upon itself to complete the hat trick, joyously losing the international E-Up Rally by getting across the line first.

The purpose of this eight nation tourney, held from and for 100km around Bensberg Castle near Cologne, is to introduce the lithium ion battery driven e-Up, which though it sounds like a Yorkshireman's oath is in fact the most efficient and indeed tolerable electric commuter car we've yet encountered. Fully chargeable from your wall socket in some six hours, it has a theoretical range of range of 150km.

DRIVING

After 40km of hyper-miling perspiration, however, Glenn Butler and I in the Aussie flag stamped e-Up  were undone by boredom and humiliated at being overtaken by a Ford Ka. Boosting the aircon, we overtook the field, especially our cousins from land to the north with their interesting habit of braking hard on exiting a corner. We at least ascertained that the four seat commuter can drive efficiently at the speed limit. Hence, the organisers were unready when we lobbed over the line  45 minutes ahead of schedule. We in turn were bemused to be greeted by hundreds in a gala podium finish. Champagne and microphones were thrust at us.
Yet we came stone motherless eighth using 11.3 kilowatt hours for a score of 60. The winning Poms used barely seven and scored 260. Even so, we had somehow 44km range remaining after our 100. The Germans felt this the day's most impressive result, given we'd driven it as we would a conventional VW Up.

VERDICT

Which was our point. While the e-Up is but the remotest chance for our Australia, zero emission motoring is a real possibility the day government ceases profiting by car sales for a moment and grants EVs the concessions they are due. Then companies can talk seriously of running green vehicle fleets and privately owned public charging points will flourish as they do in in the first world.