As the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show is ongoing, the Skoda Auto have premiered their first electric car named Vision E and is claimed to be the future of the company. The Vision E gives an idea into Skoda’s electro mobility strategy and this concept will featured five electric vehicles across different segments by the year 2025.
The Vision E concept is the first ever electric production car manufactured by the Czech company. Skoda claims that the 5-door SUV is capable of travelling 500km just on electric power, subtly hinting that the automaker with bring the hybrid drive version as well.
At the 2017 Shanghai Motor Show, the Vision E Concept measures 4,645mm in length, 1,917mm in width and 1,550mm in height. The interior of the SUV could be very spacious indeed, and that the wheelbase stands at 2,850mm. The SUV is powered by a new lithium-ion battery positioned in the hub of the car. The SUV will be driven by two electric motors with a combined output of 305PS. The motors located in the front hints that it is an all-wheel driven. While the top speed is a claimed 180kmph. Skoda does say that the car “accelerates dynamically and instantaneously.”
Skoda also claims that, according to surveys, by 2030, 15 per cent of all cars on the road could be fully autonomous. Hence, the Vision E Concept has been designed to achieve level 3 autonomous driving. The car is equipped with various sensors with different ranges and numerous cameras, Skoda claims that the SUV is capable of operating independently in traffic jams, going into autopilot on motorways, carrying out overtaking manoeuvres, independently searching for parking spaces, parking and leaving parking spaces independently.
Skoda also plans to develop its own electro mobility plans based on the MEB group platform. Skoda will be launching the Superb plug-in hybrid in 2019 as a start to the new plans, but the first completely electric Skoda car is expected to be out by 2020. Also,it is quite uncertain that Skoda will launch any of its five cars in India but India has always been an important market for skoda. As Tesla is coming with its Model 3 in summers this year, it does makes sense that Skoda could also bring its electric cars in India.