Volkswagen Unveils Mission Efficiency EV Prototype, Claiming 279 MPGe on 794-Mile Trip

The trip resulted in consumption of 7.51 kilowatt-hours per 100 miles, or about 279 MPGe, according to TechCrunch. The teardrop-shaped prototype was built using the electric motor and battery from the ID. Polo, two features that bring the car to near production status, Volkswagen said in a press release. TechCrunch reported that the prototype is almost twice as efficient as the most efficient production car in the world, the Lucid Air Pure.

TechCrunch calculated that the prototype can get more than 400 miles of range from a 54.9-kilowatt-hour battery, though that is not an official EPA rating. Lucid gets 420 miles from an 84-kilowatt-hour battery per EPA ratings, but it is a much larger and more practical vehicle.

Volkswagen made compromises for efficiency. The most noticeable is the roofline, which tapers quickly after peaking above the driver's head. The shape, known as a Kammback, is among the most aerodynamic shapes a vehicle can take. Volkswagen brought the coefficient of drag down to 0.158 and kept the frontal area at 2.08 square meters. As a result, the Mission Efficiency is technically a 2+2, meaning the rear seats are not suitable for most adults. Volkswagen said the backseat is designed for people shorter than 5 feet 3 inches, or about 1.6 meters. The company said the prototype was designed so it could theoretically be used by a young family of four, though TechCrunch noted that anyone who has contemplated sitting in a 2+2 knows even kids might scoff at the notion.

Another compromise sits closer to the road. Because wheels and tires can contribute about a quarter to a third of aerodynamic drag, designers tightened the space between the wheel arches and the front tires. That helps efficiency but may hurt ride quality, since wheels need space to move inside the wheel wells so shocks can absorb bumps. Volkswagen did not compromise on mirrors. Sideview mirrors generate significant drag, and cameras would have cut those losses, but they do not offer the same sense of depth as true mirrors.

Volkswagen put solar cells on the roof and the trunk lid. TechCrunch reported their impact is limited, adding just 18 miles, or 30 kilometers, on perfectly flat, sunny routes driven at a constant 42.25 mph, or 68 kph. Inside, the seats use lightweight materials and designs. On the dash, Volkswagen took a page from EV startup Slate Auto. Like Slate's barebones pickup, the Mission Efficiency does not come with an infotainment system or built-in speakers. Instead, it offers a portable Bluetooth speaker and assumes drivers will bring their own devices.

Volkswagen frequently calls the Mission Efficiency a near production vehicle, but the company did not commit to actual production. TechCrunch reported that does not mean it will not happen. More than a decade ago, Volkswagen produced 250 examples of the XL1, another efficiency-minded halo car. Like other halo cars, it did not come cheap, with prices starting at €110,000 in 2013.