Irish buyers can reserve VW’s new electric marvel from today
We don’t yet know what it will precisely look like, nor how far it will go on a single charge of its batteries in real-world conditions.
We sure as heck don’t know how much it’s going to cost, but from now, Irish car buyers — at least those enthusiastic enough to do so — can put their order down for Volkswagen’s all-electric ID hatchback.
A €1,000 deposit will get you into the queue for VW’s battery powered hatchback which, if the hyperbole is to be believed, will go for 500km on a single charge, and will pack Passat-style space into a Golf-sized body.
A direct result of the investments VW made in electric technology following its self-inflicted diesel scandal, the ID is just the tip of a vast iceberg of incoming electric VW models, all based on the new MEB electric car chassis.
“Today is a very exciting day for Volkswagen and for the future of electromobility,” said Paddy Comyn, VW Ireland’s head of communications last week.
“Customers across Europe, and here in Ireland have the opportunity to reserve the chance to order the ID.3, the first member of what will be a family of electric vehicles from Volkswagen. Potential buyers can secure the opportunity to order the first ID.3 models to come to the market.
“On the Volkswagen Ireland website you will find the new ID hub, where you will be able to not only sign up for all the latest news and developments about the ID.3, but you will also be able to place a €1,000 reservation fee in order to gain early access to an ID.3 first edition, a high-specification vehicle that showcases the new model in its finest guise.”
Deliveries of the new ID will not start until next summer, so you’ve a while to wait yet, but to sweeten the wait, VW is offering to pay for the first 2,000kWh of public charging.
Using a supplied RFID card, ID buyers will be able to charge up for free at all public charging points, and at the new IONITY ultra-rapid charging points.
IONITY is a conglomerate formed VW, Porsche, Audi, Ford, BMW, and Mercedes which intends to install hundreds of 150kW fast-chargers across Europe.
The first Irish IONITY charger has already begun construction in Cashel, and a further eight sites have been earmarked, nationwide. The only wrinkle is that VW Ireland has not yet confirmed that the free charging offer will be available here.
The rear wheel drive ID.3 will be available with a choice of three battery capacities; 45kW/h, 58kW/h and 77kW/h that can deliver a driving range of up to 330, 420 or 550 kilometres under the strict new WLTP testing.
“With the start of pan-European pre-booking for the ID.3, e-mobility at Volkswagen will become concrete for our customers. From today, everyone can take part,” said VW’s Jürgen Stackmann, at an event in Berlin recently.
“With the ID.3, we will be ushering in the third major chapter of strategic importance in the history of our brand, following the Beetle and the Golf,” Mr Stackmann added.
“With the ID.3, we are making the electric car fit for mass mobility. Initially, we will electrify Europe with the ID.3 and then other regions with further electric models in the ID. family which are to follow in the near future.”