Get Vehicle Concepts Guide for Volkswagen Touareg SUV Second Generation (2010-2018)

Vehicle Concepts

Overview of the different 

drive combinations

Full hybrid

drive

Plug-in hybrid drive

PHEV

Electric drive

BEV

Range extender

electric drive

RXBEV

Fuel cell drive

FCBEV

HEV

Internal combustion

engine

Electric motor(s)

Power electronics

High-voltage battery

Charging contact for

external charging

Potential CO

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50

100

90

100

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reduction [%]

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Essentially there are different hybrid and electric vehicle concepts. Some are currently on the market. Others exist

as prototypes for now.

All concepts have a certain number of common high-voltage components. The components are found in all high-

voltage vehicles in adapted form.

The fuels are not indicated in the diagram. The internal-combustion engine uses fuel. 

The fuel cell is fuelled with hydrogen.

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The Touareg with full hybrid drive (HEV)

In full hybrids, the vehicle has a conventional internal-

combustion engine and an electric motor/generator

that functions as an alternator, drive unit and starter

motor. The individual operating modes depend on

factors like the charge state of the high-voltage

battery, the accelerator pedal position and the brake

pedal value. Both the internal-combustion engine and

also the electric motor/generator transfer their power

via a clutch and a common gearbox to the drive

axles.

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In addition to the high-voltage system, the vehicle also has a 12V onboard supply with its own 12V onboard

supply battery. 

In this concept, the interior is heated with the heated coolant from the combustion engine.

Design

Power units and high-voltage components

High-voltage battery

Electric motor/generator

Gearbox

Combustion

engine

Air conditioner 

compressor

Power electronics

High-voltage lines

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Vehicle Concepts

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HEV operating modes

Electric driving

Combustion engine off

The combustion engine is deactivated. The electric

motor/generator drives the vehicle. In a hybrid, all

functions that are normally driven by the running

combustion engine are performed by different high-

voltage and 12V units.

Power electronics

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electric motor/generator runs as drive unit

Combustion engine operation

Combustion engine running

Combustion engine drives the vehicle. The high-

voltage battery is charged (depending on the charge

status). The operating point of the engine is shifted to

an efficient range.

High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor/generator runs as alternator

E-boost

Combustion engine running

The electric drive motor supports the combustion

engine when there is a high load requirement. 

The outputs of the combustion engine and electric

motor/generator are combined briefly.

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electric motor/generator runs as drive unit

Combustion engine off

Regenerative braking

The combustion engine is normally switched off. The

braking energy is converted into electrical energy by

the electric motor/generator (which is functioning as

an alternator) and stored in the high-voltage battery.

High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor/generator runs as alternator

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The Golf 6 TwinDrive (PHEV)

In contrast to the full hybrid drive, the TwinDrive has

two electric motors. One of the electric motors is used

exclusively as an alternator or starter while the other

electric motor is used as an electric motor and

alternator. The two electric motors and the

combustion engine are connected to each other via

clutches.

Here too, the operating mode determines the

interaction of the two electric motors and the

combustion engine. The high-voltage battery in the

TwinDrive can also be charged via an external 230V

mains connection. It can even feed electricity into the

230V mains via the charging cable if the house connection to the 230V mains is suitably configured.

In addition to the high-voltage system, the vehicle also has a 12V onboard supply with its own 12V onboard

supply battery. In a hybrid, all functions that are normally driven by the combustion engine (e.g. air conditioner

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compressor) are performed by different high-voltage and 12V units.

Design

Power units and high-voltage components

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Air conditioner

compressor

High-voltage

battery

Combustion

engine

Electric motor 2

Gearbox

Electric motor 1

Power electronics 2

Battery

charger

Power electronics 1

Charging contact

High-voltage lines

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Vehicle Concepts

PHEV operating modes

Electric driving

Combustion engine off

Electric 

motor 2 off



Power electronics 1 & 2

The combustion engine is deactivated. The vehicle is

driven by electric motor 1. The high-voltage battery

supplies the energy via power electronics 1.

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

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Electric motor 1 functions as the drive

Series driving

Combustion engine running

Electric motor 2 starts the combustion engine. Then

electric motor 2 runs as an alternator and feeds the

high-voltage battery. This motor supplies energy so

electric motor 1 can drive the vehicle electrically. 

This operating mode is an exception.

Electric motor 2 runs as an alternator

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electric motor 1 functions as the drive

Boost

Combustion engine running

The combustion engine and electric motors accelerate

the vehicle. This function depends on the charge state

of the high-voltage battery.

Electric motor 2 runs as drive unit

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electric motor 1 functions as the drive

Driving with combustion engine

Combustion engine running

If the high-voltage battery is completely discharged,

electric driving is no longer permitted. 

In this case, the vehicle drives with the combustion

engine and simultaneously charges the high-voltage

battery with the surplus power using electric motor 2.

Electric motor 2 runs as an alternator

High-voltage

battery

charging

Electric motor 1 off

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Combustion engine running

Coupled driving and charging

The route planned by the driver may require that the

combustion engine drives the vehicle and, at the

same time, the surplus power is used to charge the

high-voltage battery.

Electric motor 2 runs as an alternator

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High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor 1 functions as the drive

Combustion engine off

Regenerative braking

Both electric motors can be used for regenerative

braking when the clutch is engaged. The energy from

the deceleration of the vehicle can be converted into

a direct voltage by the two power electronics units

and immediately stored in the high-voltage battery.

Electric motor 2 runs as an alternator

High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor 1 runs as an alternator

Charging

contact

External charging

The high-voltage system is in stand-by mode during

the charging process from an external source. 

The electric motors and power electronics are

deactivated. The charging cable is connected to the

vehicle via the charging contact. When a source of

electricity for charging the high-voltage battery is

recognised by the control unit, two charge protection

relays are closed. 

Electric motor 2 off

High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor 1 off

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The charging process is started. The charging process

is stopped once the required capacity has been

reached. Electrical consumers that are activated

during the charging process are powered by the

external charging source.

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Vehicle Concepts

The Golf blue-e-motion (BEV)

Example of 2011 test fleet

The blue-e-motion is a purely electric vehicle without

combustion engine. Except for battery charging by

means of regenerative braking, the high-voltage

battery can only be charged externally via a charging

station, a 230V mains socket or a charging cable

connected to a public charging station. In addition to

the high-voltage system, the vehicle also has a 12V

onboard supply with its own 12V onboard supply

battery. The electric motor/generator delivering

85kW transfers the output to the drive wheels via a

reduction gearbox and differential.

The driver operates the vehicle in exactly the same way as a vehicle with an automatic or dual clutch gearbox. The

reduction gearbox has a mechanical parking lock. In addition, the gearshift gate has the position “B” (regenerative

braking). In this position, the system supplies the maximum possible regenerative braking when you take your foot

off the accelerator. The vehicle can be brought to a standstill in this way without the brakes. The heat from the

electric drive motor is not sufficient to heat the interior. Therefore the blue-e-motion has a high-voltage heating

system.

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Design

Drive units and high-voltage components

High-voltage battery

High-voltage

heating system

Power electronics

Air conditioner

compressor

Battery charger

Electric motor/

generator with

gearbox

Charging contact

High-voltage lines

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BEV operating modes

Electric driving

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Power electronics

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electrical driving with a purely electrical automobile

is configured in exactly the same way as a full hybrid

vehicle: the high-voltage battery supplies energy to

the power electronics. The power electronics convert

the direct voltage into an alternating voltage to drive

the electric motor.

Electric motor/generator runs as drive unit

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Regenerative braking

High-voltage 

battery

is charged

If the electric vehicle “coasts” (the vehicle moves

without drive torque from the electric motor), part of

the kinetic energy is fed into the high-voltage battery

by the electric motor that functions as an alternator.

Electric motor/generator runs as alternator

Climate control while vehicle is stationary

High-voltage heating system

If, for example, the electric vehicle is standing in a

traffic jam, no output is required from the electric

motor/generator. The comfort requirements of the

occupants are met with a high-voltage heating system

and a high-voltage air conditioner compressor.

High-voltage air conditioner

compressor

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

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External charging

Charging

contact

The high-voltage battery is charged via the charging

contact on the vehicle. When the external charging

source is connected, the vehicle is charged

High-voltage

battery

is charged

automatically up to the previously set value. The

process is ended automatically. If electrical

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consumers are used during the charging process,

they will be supported by the charging voltage.

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Vehicle Concepts

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The Audi A1 e-tron (RXBEV)

(concept vehicle)

This is an example of a range extender (RXBEV). 

It is driven by a combustion engine and two electric

motors. Unlike the previously described systems, the

combustion engine does not have a mechanical

connection to the drive axles, however. The vehicle

has an electric-only drive.

The combustion engine only drives electric motor 1,

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which functions as a generator and charges the high-

voltage battery while the vehicle is driven. In this

function, the combustion engine runs in its optimum

map with high output and low consumption. This set-

up allows the vehicle range to be extended. The high-voltage battery is mainly charged externally. 

The mobile recharging possibility with the combustion engine and electric motor 1 working as an alternator can be

seen as a back-up generator. In addition to the high-voltage system, the vehicle also has a 12V onboard supply

with its own 12V onboard supply battery.

Design

Drive units and high-voltage components

Electric motor 1

Combustion

engine

Power 

electronics 1

High-voltage battery

High-voltage

heating system

Electric motor 2

Battery charger

Power 

electronics 2

Air conditioner

compressor

Charging contact

High-voltage lines

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RXBEV operating modes

Combustion engine off

Electric driving



Power electronics 1 & 2

Electric motor

1 off

If the high-voltage battery is charged, the vehicle is

driven electrically with electric motor 2. Convenience

consumers (high-voltage heating system and high-

voltage air conditioner compressor) and the 12-volt

onboard supply battery are powered via power

electronics 2.

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electric motor 2 functions as the drive

Combustion engine running

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Electric driving and charging



Electric motor 1 runs as alternator

The high-voltage battery is discharged. The

combustion engine starts in order to continue the

journey. It drives electric motor 1 and thus charges

the high-voltage battery. Electric motor 2 is the sole

source of propulsion and the sole means of

regenerative braking.

High-voltage

battery

charging and

supplying

power

Electric motor 2 functions as the drive

Charging battery when vehicle is 

Combustion engine running

stationary



Electric motor 1 runs as alternator

An external voltage source is not available to charge

the high-voltage battery. 

In this case, the combustion engine can charge the

high-voltage battery via electric motor 1 while the

vehicle is stationary.

High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor 2 off

External charging

Charging

contact

The high-voltage system and the complete drive are

deactivated. The high-voltage battery is charged via

the charging connection on the vehicle, the high-

voltage charger and the two charge protection

relays. The charging process is automatically

monitored and ended by the system.

High-voltage

battery

is charged

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Vehicle Concepts

The Tiguan HyMotion (FCBEV)

The HyMotion features a fuel cell drive. The vehicle is

fuelled with hydrogen and obtains the electrical

energy for the electric motor from a fuel cell module.

In this module, the hydrogen is turned into water to

produce electrical energy. Depending on the

operating mode, the charging voltage for the high-

voltage battery is used for the drive. 

An additional combustion engine is not installed. The

high-voltage battery can only be charged externally

by workshops with a special battery charger. In

addition to the high-voltage system, the vehicle also

has a 12V onboard supply with its own 12V onboard

supply battery.

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Design

Drive units and high-voltage components

Air conditioner

compressor

Power electronics

High-voltage

heating system

Fuel

cell

Electric motor

High-voltage lines

High-voltage battery

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FCBEV operating modes

Electric driving

Fuel cell off

Power electronics

If the high-voltage battery has been charged, the

vehicle can be driven electrically. In this case, the fuel

cell does not supply any energy and does not

consume any hydrogen.

High-voltage

battery

supplies power

Electric motor runs as drive unit

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Electric driving and charging

Fuel cell is active

The fuel cell is activated when the charging state of

the high-voltage battery requires its power. The

electrical energy for driving and for charging the

high-voltage battery is produced from the fuelled

hydrogen with the aid of oxygen from the air.

High-voltage

battery

charging and

Electric motor runs as drive unit

supplying power

Fuel cell off

Regenerative braking

The electric motor exclusively takes care of

regenerative braking. During over-run, the electric

motor functions as an alternator. It charges the high-

voltage battery via the power electronics.

High-voltage

battery

is charged

Electric motor runs as alternator

Hydrogen for the fuel cell

The hydrogen is topped up at special filling pumps. The fuelling procedure is identical to that for natural gas. The

hydrogen is pumped into pressurised tanks under the vehicle at pressures up to 700 bar. Due to the physical

properties of hydrogen, 80 litres weigh about 6.44kg. The hydrogen reaches the fuel cell via pressure reducers. At

an operating pressure of 3 bar, it supplies a direct voltage of 250V to 450V.

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Vehicle Concepts for Your Volkswagen Touareg SUV Second Generation (2010-2018)

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