This is Volkswagen’s E-Up! It is designed to offer a zero-emissions alternative for people who only drive short distances. Set for launch at the end of 2010, the E-Up is VW’s first entry into the electric market. The model has 18kW batteries that can be charged in five hours, giving a range of 80 miles.

The E-Up will be shown alongside electric and diesel versions of the Up city car. A specially designed crash structure will be protecting the batteries, which will be kept cool by a series of heat exchangers. Since the electric system is compact, there’s extra room for passengers. The E-Up weighs only 1085kg – including battery weight of 240kg. Solar panels measuring 1.4 square meters help to back up the batteries. The Up may be shorter than a Fiat 500, but it has the same wheelbase, with minimal front and rear overhangs. The car has a three-plus-one seating arrangement, allowing two adults to sit on the passenger’s side and a child to sit behind the driver. The total load space is 80 liters, rising to 320 liters when the seats are folded. VW Group boss Martin Winterkorn said that in the coming years, cars like the E-Up would replace those with pure petrol and diesel engines. Photo gallery after the jump!

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