The E-Bugster concept goes way beyond simple standardization of the plug connector. Volkswagen's plan is to outdo the other car manufacturers that have designed their cars with several charging systems.

Rumors continue to swirl regarding the possible production of the 261-mpg Volkswagen XL1. This time around, Martin Winterkorn, chief executive officer of VW, has confirmed that Volkswagen will officially launch the ultra-lightweight diesel plug-in XL1 in 2013.

The German automaker's beef is that the 54.5 mpg standard unfairly favors trucks and disses the diesels that account for 80 percent of some VW product lines.

The Volkswagen Group is a bit of a behemoth when it comes to plug-ins—it's moving slowly, but when it does, it takes big steps. I'd expect at least four electric or plug-in hybrid models in 2013, both EVs and plug-in hybrids. For the purposes of a new government-funded test program in Germany, VW will be focusing on the PHEV side. Twenty cars will be used in the test, all Golf station wagons, all fitted with Volkswagen's Twin Drive powertrain, which the carmaker has been developing since 2008.

Volkswagen may see things differently than competitors like Ford and Renault. The electric Ford Transit Connect is the first electric Ford on the market, and Renault expects to sell tens of thousands of its electric Kangoos. Ford and Renault both believe there is a market for electric compact utility vehicles, but I don't see any indication Volkswagen has the same belief.

Is Volkswagen truly serious about electric cars? Based on the comments and tone that their Board Member responsible for sales conveyed at a media roundtable in Germany this week, it's hard to gauge just how real the EV is for Volkswagen.

During the U.S. Media Launch for the Volkswagen E-Golf (officially called the Golf blue-e-motion) in Wolfsburg, Germany, PluginCars.com was given an opportunity to take a prototype of the car on a short drive. It's a solid prototype with lots of potential and some truly innovative features, but VW's strategy is hard to understand.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen made a big splash when they announced that 2013 would bring three electric cars from them—the E-Up! city car, as well as an electric Golf and an electric Jetta. But after a roundtable held in Germany this week for the U.S. Media Launch of the E-Golf, it seems that timeline has slipped.