VW's New ID Life Concept Is the Economic EV

The Affordable EV

One of the biggest barriers to widespread EV adoption is price. Currently, there aren't a ton of affordable electric vehicles available, and much of that can be blamed on the high cost of batteries. Automotive manufacturers are working overtime to drive down these costs, of course, and the newly revealed Volkswagen ID.Life looks like it will reap the benefits of those efforts in the coming years.

Photos: Volkswagen

Mashup

The ID.Life is planned for production in Europe by 2025, and it's also possible that the new model makes its way to the U.S. as well. Serving as an entry-level model in VW's EV lineup, the ID.Life is technically a crossover that's more of a mashup between a city car and a subcompact, utilitarian people hauler.

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Power and Range

The ID.Life is powered by a single electric motor that sends 231 horsepower to the front wheels and draws power from a 57.0-kWh battery pack. Range is estimated to come in at around 249 miles, but that's on Europe's overly generous WLTP cycle. Regardless, with an estimated starting price of $24,000, it's certainly affordable by EV standards.

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Eco-Friendly

There are many other nifty features present on the ID.Life concept that make it unique as well. That includes a removable roof made from recycled plastic bottles that features air-filled pockets. Eco-friendly is the name of the game here, with elements including wood chips, rice husks, and natural rubber used in the crossover's construction.

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Mobile Bed, Movie Theater

Inside, the ID.Life features a configurable interior that allows owners to fold the front and rear seats flat to make a bed, and when parked, it can also be transformed into a comfy place to watch a movie, according to Volkswagen. 

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Futuristic Cabin

The rest of the interior is likewise futuristic with an inset digital display screen taking the place of a traditional infotainment display, a hexagonal-shaped steering wheel, a smartphone dock, and cameras/monitors that replace the side mirrors present on every production U.S. vehicle today. 

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Key to the Future

Volkswagen has some ambitious EV plans, as it wants all-electric vehicles to account for 70 percent of its sales in Europe by 2030, and around 50 percent in the U.S. and China. To reach those goals, it will need at least one affordable EV in its lineup, and the ID.Life could be just the model to take that spot.

Photos: Volkswagen

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