Volkswagen's Mission Efficiency prototype has set new marks for aerodynamic and energy efficiency, claiming the title of the world's most aerodynamic road-approved vehicle with a drag coefficient of 0.158. The German automaker says the vehicle also broke a record for energy efficiency, using 6.48kWh of energy per 100 kilometers during a constant-speed test at 68 km/h on flat terrain with secondary features such as air conditioning turned off. Volkswagen further describes the Mission Efficiency as the most economical near-production electric car in its class, crediting platform sharing with the ID. Polo.
In practical terms, the prototype is designed to cover long distances with minimal charging stops. Volkswagen completed a real-world trip of 1,278.36 km, or 794.34 miles, from Wolfsburg to Vienna on a single charge of the vehicle's 54.9 kWh net battery. The EV consumed 6.89 kWh per 100 km, or 7.51 kWh per 100 km including charging losses, at an average speed of 67.72 km/h, and still had 164 km of range remaining on arrival.
The efficiency gains come from shape and weight reduction rather than exotic hardware. The Mission Efficiency uses a teardrop profile with covered wheels, a covered underbody, frameless windows and flush door handles, all intended to move through air with minimal disturbance. Weight was cut where aerodynamics could not help: the paneling is lighter, and the infotainment setup relies on a portable Bluetooth speaker and a smartphone or tablet dock instead of a central touchscreen. Integrated roof solar panels can add up to 30 km of range for auxiliary electronics.
The prototype shares its 99 kW front-wheel electric motor, high-voltage battery, aluminum structure and high-strength carbon fiber materials with the ID. Polo. According to Volkswagen, at speeds above 80 km/h the Mission Efficiency uses over 30 percent less energy than the ID. Polo, and at 140 km/h it consumes the same energy as an ID. Polo traveling at 100 km/h. The company frames the results as a design challenge built on a re-bodied ID. Polo supermini, not a new motor or battery.
The effort reflects a broader push across the auto industry to make electric vehicles more efficient as a way to draw more buyers. Ford is using design challenges to reduce drag on its new next-generation EV truck, and Mercedes, Audi and Porsche are all focused on aerodynamics. For US consumers, the open question is which of these low-drag designs will reach production and how buyers will respond to their unusual shapes.
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