Tiny single-seat electric commuter car unveiled by Volkswagen

(September 2, 2011) Nils, a single-seat electric concept vehicle that offers a glimpse of a new form of minimalist mobility, has been unveiled by Volkswagen ahead of its public debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this month. 

This concept car — which features an aluminum space frame, wing doors and free-standing wheels — has the dynamic performance of a sports car, yet travels silently, and with zero emissions.

The Nils project is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, and is designed to be both technically realistic and economically supportable.



"‘NILS anticipates the future. The goal of the NILS project is to research a technically concrete and economically feasible vehicle concept for micro-mobility which restructures individual transportation to make it more efficient and environmentally compatible based on electric drive technology," said Dr Ulrich Hackenberg, member of the Board of Management and Head of Development for the Volkswagen Brand.

With a range of 40 miles and a top speed of 80 mph Nils would be the ideal vehicle for the majority of commuters in Germany.  According to the German Bureau of Statistics, 73.9 per cent of all commuters residing between Berlin and Munich cover less than15.5 miles on their way to work.

Cars have always been mirrors of their times — their design styles and technological standards reflecting a particular era — and Nils is no different.  It uses emissions-reducing electric drive technology to fulfill the specific requirements of commuters.  In Germany, for example, about 60 per cent of all commuters travel by car, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics; of these over 90 per cent travel alone.  Zero-emissions vehicles like Nils will offer these frequent drivers a new eco-friendly mobility solution.

Nils is a very compact car that requires extremely little space in traffic.  It is only 3.04 meters long – making it about 50 cm shorter than the new Volkswagen up! – just 0.39 meters wide from wheel to wheel, and a mere 1.2 meters tall.

To help quell nerves over the Nils' diminutive size, the car is equipped with a radar-based automatic braking system, a collision warning system, four disc brakes, and electronic stability control. The wing doors include a crash reinforcement section, and the aluminum space frame has been designed to act as a safety cell in the event of a collision.

Nils has the same basic layout as a Formula 1 race car, with the driver in the middle, the engine in back, and free-standing outboard wheels.  The 17-inch alloy wheels are equipped with 115/80 (front) and 125/80 (rear) tires optimized for low rolling resistance.

A lithium-ion battery supplies the electric motor with energy.  The battery capacity (5.3 kWh) enables driving ranges of up to 65 km, depending on the style of driving.  A battery of this size is relatively inexpensive, and can be charged either via a conventional 230-volt electrical outlet (maximum charging time two hours) or at an electric vehicle charging station.  The socket is located at the back underneath the rear lighting module.