Volkswagen Launches 261 mpg XL1 Plug-in Hybrid, World’s Most Efficient Production Car

This is pretty big news, even if it won't hit the U.S.


Volkswagen Launches 261 mpg XL1 Plug-in Hybrid, World's Most Efficient Production Car

Diesel Plug-in Hybrid Gullwing Set to Go Into Production

Volkswagen announced the launch of the XL1 plug-in hybrid, a vehicle Volkswagen says is the most fuel-efficient production car in the world. The XL1 can cover 32 miles (52 kilometers) in all-electric mode as a zero-emissions vehicle. Fuel economy is 261 mpg (0.91 l/100 km), thereby meeting a goal set by Volkswagen chairman Ferdinand Piëch at the start of the century of offering a vehicle that has a fuel consumption rating of one liter per 100 kilometers or 235 mpg...

At 62 mph (100 km/h), the Volkswagen XL1 will use 8.3 hp to maintain its speed. In all-electric mode, the vehicle needs less than 0.1 KwH to cover more than one kilometer (0.62 miles).

That doesn't seem right for a car that gets 261mpg, as a typical car needs about 20hp to do 62mph. The CD 0.19 isn't that radical either (GM EV1 had the same many years ago).

Lets assume 0.4 for bsfc (which would be really really good for part throttle low rpm). That'd be 0.4 lbs/hr *8.3hp = 3.3 lbs per hour at 62mph. Gasoline weighs around 6 lbs per gallon, so that'd be 0.55 gallons per hour at 62mph, or 112mpg. Impressive, but not 261mpg.

Just to show it for that 20hp@60mph car, assuming a BSFC of 0.5, it'd be getting .5*20= 10l lbs/hr = 1.67gallon/hr = 36mpg (which is close to what my E46 gets at a constant 60mph on flat ground).

EDIT: Lets look at that 0.1Kwh number too. 0.1Kwh = 6Kw-minutes. So to go approximately 60mph for one minute, the motor needs to produce 6Kw. 6Kw = 8hp, so that roughly jives.

I'll be looking for details to come out just before or during the Geneva Motor show.

Lease only??? The XL1 could be insanely expensive to build and a per car money looser for VW.