Electric cars gave the bi-annual Frankfurt Motor Show a jolt this year. They have run the gambit from fanciful to revolutionary, with many showcasing dramatic styling and futuristic technologies. Here, we will highlight a couple standout concepts from Audi and Volkswagen; we will follow up with examples from Lexus and Toyota.
 
Audi E-tron
Audi imagines the E-tron concept as the electric sports car of the future. It’s a little bigger than an Audi TT, but looks like the much sexier R8. The E-tron uses a lithium-ion battery pack and four electric motors, two on each axle, for an electric version of Audi’s Quattro system. Audi claims the car has 313 horsepower, will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, and has a 150-mile range. The company doesn’t specify the technology in its 53 kwh battery pack, but says it is liquid cooled. The E-tron uses a heat pump for air conditioning. The concept car explores smart infrastructure communications with wireless car-to-car, car-to-street, and car-to-pedestrian communications technology to smooth traffic flow, take advantage of automated driving systems, and help avoid accidents.
 
Volkswagen E-Up
For several years, Volkswagen has been showing models based on its original Up concept of 2007, a rear-engined four-cylinder, four-seat hatchback the company said could replace its New Beetle as popular and cheap transportation for the masses. The E-Up takes that concept one further by making the car electric. The E-Up is a more upright design, measuring just 10-1/2 ft. (a little longer than a Smart ForTwo) with seating for three adults and one child--similar in concept to the upcoming Scion iQ.) The E-Up uses a lithium-ion battery a little more than half the size and weight of the one in the Mini-E [LINK], 18 kwh, for a range of 80 miles, which VW says is sufficient for urban driving. Top speed for the 2,400-pound car is 85 mph. The E-Up can be recharged overnight on a 220-volt outlet, or more quickly with higher amps. Volkswagen says an 80-percent charge takes just one hour.

—Eric Evarts

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