Electric front-wheel drive. Volkswagen has redesigned the ID. Polo’s electric drive system. While the larger ID. models are equipped with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the ID. Polo uses electric front-wheel drive based on the enhanced MEB+. The heart of this drive system is the new APP290 electric drive motor – a permanently excited synchronous motor. Here, APP stands for Axial Parallel Position, while 290 indicates the maximum torque achievable with this drive motor in newton-metres. The motor is compact and very light at 75 kg, which has a positive effect on fuel consumption, agility and space. With its high efficiency, it also offers a further advantage in terms of consumption and constant power development over a wide rpm range (good response at all motor and driving speeds, better agility, greater comfort). A one-speed gearbox with integrated pulse inverter is flanged onto the motor housing.
Made by Volkswagen. The new pulse inverter – also referred to as the power electronics – coordinates the power and torque development as well as drive system recuperation. These power electronics also convert the direct current (DC) stored in the battery into the alternating current (AC) needed by the electric drive motor. The pulse inverter is also a Volkswagen development which, thanks to the advanced components and high-quality materials used, increases efficiency and therefore lowers the consumption of the ID. Polo. Other components of the drive system, which is integrated compactly in the front end, include the AC and DC charging socket at the front on the right-hand side of the ID. Polo, the charger integrated nearby and the electric air conditioning compressor. As an important thermal management component, the latter has been carefully decoupled from the body and therefore does not transmit any vibrations to the interior.
Four driving profiles change the drive system characteristics. The driver can influence power delivery and consumption using the driving profiles. Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual profiles are available here. Eco supports the driver in adopting a consumption-efficient driving style. In this case, the ID. Polo accelerates slightly more gently; the output of both the drive system and the air conditioning settings is also reduced. Comfort is the standard driving profile designed for the best possible comfort. True to its name, Sport focuses on maximum dynamic performance for the drive and steering. The Individual driving profile allows the driver to set up the ID. Polo individually in terms of steering, drive system, driving sound, ACC (standard in Life and up, can be activated subsequently in Trend), light assistance and air conditioning.
Volkswagen exterior sound. The exterior sound of the ID. Polo has also been developed from scratch. The background: many EU markets require almost silent electric cars to emit a sound audible to passers-by at low speeds of up to 20 km/h. In this context, Volkswagen has now designed a new brand sound that is used for the first time in conjunction with the ID. Polo. Numerous parameters are incorporated here to make the sound experience as pleasant and fascinating as possible. The sound is active at up to 25 km/h in all gear selector positions and driving profiles. In the Sport profile, a particularly distinctive sports sound is also generated at speeds of up to 50 km/h. The sound tapestry is adapted in real time depending on driving-relevant variables such as speed, accelerator position and drive torque.