VW Announces e-Golf EPA Numbers

The Environmental Protection Agency releases the official fuel economy numbers for the 2017 eGolf.

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf

The price of a gallon of gasoline continues to hover below the $2.50-per-gallon mark in most of the US of A. As a result, the EPA mileage estimates found on new vehicle window stickers are probably not the numbers most car buyers are currently concerned with.

But despite those low gasoline prices, the inexorable quest for fuel efficiency continues. The Holy Grail: the current federally-mandated Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard of 54.5 miles per gallon by the year 2025.

Measuring each vehicle and enforcing those numbers falls to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Earlier today, the agency released the fuel economy figures for Volkswagen's 2017 e-Golf, the all-electric version of its compact hatchback. The numbers, needless to say, were good news for the German manufacturer as it continues to rise, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of its diesel emissions debacle.

According to VW, the 2017 e-Golf comes with a city driving EPA estimated fuel economy of 126 miles per gallon gasoline equivalent (MPGe). On the highway, it's rated at 111 MPGe, while its combined city/ highway estimate is 119 MPGe.

Those numbers are, for the most part, improved over the 2016 EPA estimates, which were 126/105/116 city/highway/combined. It also makes the 2017 e-Golf's EPA estimates, at least so far, the best in the Compact Class.

2017 Volkswagen e-Golf changes

Much of the credit for those improvements has to do with the fact that VW has made a number of upgrades to its latest electric Golf.

For one, a new a new lithium-ion battery increases energy capacity to 35.8 kWh, up from the outgoing model's 24.2 kWh. The result is an increase in EPA-estimated total range from 83 to 125 miles on a single (full) charge. A 7.2 kW on-board charger, now standard on both trims (SE and SEL Premium), enables a full charged in under six hours at a 240V charging station. When using DC Fast Charging (an option on SE, standard on SEL Premium), the battery can be charged to 80 percent within an hour at a DC fast charging station.

Secondly, the 2017 e-Golf also features a larger electric motor. The 2016 model utilized a 115 horsepower, 85 kWh, electric motor that developed 199 lb-ft of torque. For 2017, the new electric motor ups both those numbers: 134 horsepower, 214 lb-ft of torque.