Volkswagen
NILS Concept
The
Volkswagen NILS concept was a radical single-seat vehicle which was developed
with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and
Urban Development. The concept appeared in 2011. Volkswagen said the concept
was designed to be both technically and economically sustainable, while also
achieving the impossible by offering the dynamic performance of a sports car
together with the environmental benefits of an electric car.
And
that’s where it starts to go a bit wrong. The range of 40 miles might be fine
for short commuter trips through a city, and I’m not doubting it’s an electric
car. But the top speed of 80 mph (130 km/h) isn’t even close to sports car
territory. In fact almost every base-model hatchback on the planet will leave
it for dead on the highway. Even the acceleration is sluggish. It takes 11
seconds to get to 62 mph.
But
if you just forget the fact Volkswagen is claiming the NILS has the performance
of a sports car, and just concentrate on the fun-factor of this little
one-seater then it starts to look a little bit more appealing.
The
Volkswagen NILS has the same basic layout as a Formula 1 race car, with the
driver in the middle, the engine in back, RWD transmission, and free-standing
outboard wheels.
Alhough
the inspiration for its layout may have come from Formula 1, the NILS’ styling
has its origins at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Potsdam, Berlin. The centre’s director, designer Thomas
Ingenlath said of the car: “NILS was designed to make a visual statement and
transport a vision of the automotive future to the present. I am especially pleased that we managed to
implement the concept of the two glass wing doors. This allowed us to create large transparent
surfaces and simultaneously to make entering and exiting the vehicle very
comfortable, even in the most cramped of parking spaces.”
The
Volkswagen NILS weighs just 460 kgs (1,014 lbs) – thanks in part to its
aluminium spaceframe chassis and bodywork. That means it doesn’t need a very
big electric motor to get moving. Mounted behind the driver is compact electric
motor which produces 15 kW, although for short bursts it can develop 25 kW. A
lithium-ion battery supplies the energy.
