Offsetting production, distribution and the first 36,000 miles of driving in the e-Golf electric car, Volkswagen will invest in forestry conservation in California and gas capture at McKinney Landfill in Texas.

Audi will target a carbon offset for final assembly, distribution and 50,000 miles of driving in the A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid through unnamed projects in the United States and Africa.

‘Volkswagen feels it is important to look beyond the benefits of driving a vehicle without tailpipe emissions and to take a holistic approach to e-mobility,’ said Oliver Schmidt, general manager, Environment and Engineering Office, Volkswagen Group of America.

Steve McDougal, president of 3Degrees, added: ‘As more people choose low and no emission cars, Volkswagen is making it possible – and easy – to think comprehensively about the greenhouse gas emissions profile of a vehicle.’

Both cars will launch in the second half of 2014, supplied with a Bosch 240-volt home charging unit as standard, plus access to the ChargePoint public network.

Volkswagen Group of America has become the first automotive partner for solar energy provider SunPower, offering favourable rates on optional photovoltaic systems and backup storage once it becomes available.