Audi E-tron: Comparison
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The Audi e-tron family is a series of electric and hybrid concept cars shown by Audi from 2009 onwards. In 2012 Audi unveiled a plug-in hybrid version, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron, released to retail customers in Europe in August 2014, and slated for the U.S. in 2015.

  • plug-in hybrid
  • e-tron
  • hybrid

1. E-tron Performance

As this car is still in concept phase, much of its performance specifications are still uncertain. The car will have four electric motors, one per wheel. Together, these motors will produce 3,320 pound-feet (4,500 N⋅m) of torque. Top speed for the e-tron is limited to 222 kilometres per hour (138 mph), and it will be able to travel 150 miles (240 km) on full charge.

In concept form, the e-tron also is equipped with conceptual technology: technology that communicates with other cars, road signs, etc.[1]

2. E-tron Concepts

2.1. e-tron Frankfurt

The first e-tron concept car was shown at the 2009 International Motor Show Germany. A two-seater, similar in appearance to the Audi R8 but slightly smaller, is powered by four UQM Technologies motors,[2] providing four-wheel drive. Together, these produce 313 PS (230 kW; 309 hp) and 4,500 N⋅m (3,319.03 lb⋅ft) of torque, resulting in an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds.

A 470 kg (1,036 lb) 42.4 kWh lithium-ion battery is located in front of the rear axle and provides a range of approximately 248 km (154 mi)[3] with a full charge taking 6–8 hours from a normal household socket. It has ceramic disc brakes as well as regenerative braking.[4] In 2010 Audi began a development program with the objective to manufacture a limited production R8 e-tron.[5][6] The R8 e-tron made a brief appearance in the 2013 Marvel Studios release of Iron Man 3.[7]

After developing 10 prototypes for research and development purposes, in May 2013 Audi decided to cancel production of the electric car due to its limited all-electric range as battery technology had not advanced as quickly as Audi had expected, making the R8 e-tron unviable for series production.[8] In March 2014 Audi revised its decision and announced it will build the R8 e-tron upon request. The carmaker explained that their latest development work resulted in an increased range from 215 km (134 mi) to approximately 450 km (280 mi).[9]

2.2. Detroit Showcar Audi e-tron

The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron (confusingly, also named "e-tron") includes 2 electric motors driving the rear wheels with a combined output of 204 PS (150 kW; 201 hp) and 2,650 N⋅m (1,954.54 lb⋅ft), lithium-ion batteries behind passenger compartment and ahead of the rear axle, adaptive matrix beam LED headlight modules with clear glass covers, fully automatic light assistance system, Audi Space Frame with doors, lids, sidewalls and roof made of a fiber-reinforced plastic; built-in central display with integrated MMI functions, front axle hydraulic fixed-caliper brake, electrically actuated floating-caliper brakes mounted on the rear axle, heat pump, triangular double wishbones made of forged aluminum components at the front and rear axles, direct rack-and-pinion steering, 19-inch wheels of 35-spoke design, 235/35 front and 255/35 rear tires. The concept car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) in 5.9 seconds.[10]

The vehicle was unveiled in 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.[11]

A similar production model, based on a future mid-engined automotive platform codenamed 9X1, shared with Porsche and Volkswagen, is reportedly under development.[12]

2.3. A1 e-tron

The Audi A1 e-tron concept car, an electric variant of the Audi A1 production model, was first shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. The A1 e-tron is a series plug-in hybrid, powered by an electric motor from UQM with a continuous output of 45 kW (61 PS; 60 bhp), and a peak output of 75 kW (102 PS; 101 bhp). A 254 cc Wankel engine is also used to power a 15 kW (20 PS; 20 bhp) range-extending generator.[13]

2.4. e-tron Spyder

Shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, this roadster is a plug-in hybrid powered by a 221 kW (296 bhp) twin-turbo TDI 3.0 L V6 diesel engine driving the rear wheels, plus two electric motors together producing 64 kW (86 bhp) powering the front wheels. Acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) is achieved in 4.4 seconds.[14]

Audi presented the e-tron Spyder in January 2011 at the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show, near identical to the Paris show car, but this time painted bright red. The car was advertised with the same performance specifications, including an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).[15]

2.5. A3 e-tron All-Electric Concept

The Audi A3 e-tron is an all-electric car variant of the Audi A3 production model. The A3 e-tron is powered by an electric motor under the hood which sends power from the rear- and mid-mounted battery packs to the front wheels. The 26.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides an optimal range of around 92 mi (148 km), but between 70 to 75 mi (113 to 121 km) in real driving conditions. Top speed is limited to 89 mph (143 km/h).[16]

Audi deployed a fleet of 17 all-electric A3 by mid-2012 as part of a testing program in the U.S. The testing is conducted among Audi's engineers and company employees, and the company has no plans to test the vehicles with customers.[16][17]

3. e-tron Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)

3.1. A3 e-tron Plug-in Hybrid

In June 2012 the carmaker confirmed production plans for a plug-in hybrid version of the A3.[16][17][18] The plug-in hybrid concept car was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show.[19] The basic powertrain hardware of the Audi A3 e-tron is shared by the Volkswagen Golf GTE plug-in hybrid, but the software controls of each car are different.[20] In May 2013 Audi announced its decision to produce only a plug-in hybrid version, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.[21][22] The A3 Sportback e-tron has an 8.8 kWh battery pack that delivers an all-electric range of 50 km (31 mi) on the NEDC cycle, and a total of 940 km (580 mi). The plug-in hybrid can reach a top speed of 220 km/h (140 mph) and can reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in 7.6 seconds. According to Audi the car has an average fuel efficiency of 1.25 L/100 km (188 mpg) and CO2 emissions of 35g/km.[21][22]

In September 2013, at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi announced that pricing for the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron will start in Germany at 37,000 Euros ($Template:International dollars/data/2016 USD).[23] The vehicle is also scheduled to arrive in Australia in early 2015.[24] On August 1, 2014, Audi announced the vehicle is now on sale across Europe at the companies 410 dealerships[24] starting at 37,900 Euros ($Template:International dollars/data/2016 USD).[25]

The first 227 vehicles were registered in Germany in August 2014.[26] According to JATO Dynamics, a total of 415 vehicles have been registered worldwide through September 2014,[27] of which, 250 were registered in Germany.[28]

Retail sales were scheduled to begin in the U.S. in early 2015.[29] In an April 2015 video, Audi America president Scott Keogh said the 'price point is going to be around $40,000,' but made no indication if that was before or after tax incentives.[30]

4. e-tron All-electric (BEV)

 
Audi e-tron quattro production version at Paris Motor Show 2018. By Matti Blume - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73408644

An SUV called 'e-tron' with 355 kilometers (220 miles EPA) range and the A9 sedan with a 95 kWh battery are scheduled for production around 2018,[31][32]  with Norway being among the first markets.[3332] The 320 kW e-tron Sportback coupé, also with a 95 kWh battery, was unveiled in April 2017, to be produced in 2019.[3433] Audi considers a cell price level of €100/kWh as suitable for higher-priced cars, but not for cheaper cars made in high volume.[3534]

References

  1. Fletcher, Seth. "Audi's Electric Supercar." Popular Science. 2010-01. 18.
  2. Press release 31 July 2012 http://uqm.com/newsandevents/2012/07/31/audi-a1-e-tron-powered-by-uqm-powerphase-electric-drive-system-will-wear-german-team-colors-at-london-2012-summer-olympics/UQM
  3. "Frankfurt showcar Audi e-tron". audi.com. Audi. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101001060544/http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/experience/design___technology/audi_e-tron/frankfurt_showcar_audi.html. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
  4. "Electric Audi R8". Evo. 15 September 2009. Archived from the original on 29 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101229004812/http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/241645/electric_audi_r8.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  5. Kable, Greg (8 June 2010). "Audi R8 e-tron hits the road". Autocar. http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/Audi-E-tron/250364/. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
  6. The Audi e-tron https://www.audi-mediaservices.com/publish/ms/content/en/public/pressemitteilungen/2009/09/15/the_audi_e-tron.html
  7. "Iron Man gets an Audi R8 e-tron". 8 March 2013. http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/audi-r8-e-tron-iron-man-3-2013-03-08. Retrieved 11 May 2014. 
  8. Lewis Kingston (2013-05-28). "All-electric Audi R8 e-tron won't go on sale". Autocar. http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/all-electric-audi-r8-e-tron-wont-go-sale. Retrieved 2014-03-11. 
  9. Eric Loveday (2014-03-11). "280 Mile Audi R8 E-Tron Becomes Reality – Will Be Built "Upon Customer Request"". InsideEVs.com. http://insideevs.com/280-mile-audi-r8-e-tron-becomes-reality/. Retrieved 2014-03-11. 
  10. "Detroit showcar Audi e-tron". audi.com. Audi. Archived from the original on 1 August 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100801214501/http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/experience/design___technology/audi_e-tron/detroit_showcar_audi.html. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
  11. The Detroit showcar Audi e-tron shows another variant of an electric vehicle developed by Audi https://www.audi-mediaservices.com/publish/ms/content/en/public/pressemitteilungen/2010/01/11/north_american_international.html
  12. Kacher, Georg (21 July 2010). "Audi R5 e-tron: Finding Mimo". Automobile Magazine. Source Interlink Media. http://www.automobilemag.com/green/news/1007_audi_r5_etron/index.html. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
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  14. "Audi e-tron Spyder". audi.com. Audi. Archived from the original on 3 October 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101003100409/http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/experience/design___technology/audi_e-tron/audi_e-tron_spyder.html. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
  15. "New Audi e-tron Spyder revealed". Evo. 7 January 2011. http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/261616/new_audi_etron_spyder_revealed.html. Retrieved 20 January 2011. 
  16. Lawrence Ulrich (2012-06-13). "Driving the Audi A3 E-tron". The New York Times. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/driving-the-audi-a3-e-tron/?ref=automobiles. Retrieved 2012-06-17. 
  17. Jim Motavalli (2012-06-07). "In Audi E-tron Program, Pure Electrics Surrender Some Charge to Plug-in Hybrids". The New York Times. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/in-audi-e-tron-program-pure-electrics-surrender-some-charge-to-plug-in-hybrids/. Retrieved 2012-06-17. 
  18. Danny King (9 March 2012). "Audi will sell A3 plug-in in Europe starting in 2014". Autoblog Green. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/09/audi-will-sell-a3-plug-in-in-europe-starting-in-2014/?a_dgi=aolshare_email. Retrieved 10 March 2012. 
  19. Zach Bowman (2013-03-05). "Audi A3 E-Tron is a look at battery-operated things to come". Autoblog.com. http://www.autoblog.com/2013/03/05/audi-a3-e-tron-geneva-2013/. Retrieved 2013-06-02. 
  20. Mike Millikin (2014-03-13). "Volkswagen: e-mobility and sustainability; Part 1, the e-Golf and Golf GTE". Green Car Congress. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/03/20140313-golf.html. Retrieved 2014-03-13. 
  21. Lewis Kingston (2013-05-31). "Audi A3 Sportback e-tron plug-in hybrid to arrive in 2014". Autocar. http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/audi-a3-sportback-e-tron-plug-hybrid-arrive-2014. Retrieved 2013-06-02. 
  22. Jay Cole (2013-05-31). "Audi Says A3 Sportback e-tron Goes Into Production And On Sale THIS Year". InsideEVs.com. http://insideevs.com/audi-says-a3-sportback-e-tron-goes-into-production-this-year/. Retrieved 2013-06-02. 
  23. Mike Szostech. "Audi A3 E-tron gets priced for Germany at 37,000 Euros". My Electric Car Forums. http://www.myelectriccarforums.com/audi-a3-e-tron-gets-priced-for-germany-at-37000-euros/. 
  24. "Audi A3 e-Tron Availability". My Electric Car Forums. http://www.myaudia3etron.com/audi-a3-e-tron-availability/. Retrieved 13 June 2014. 
  25. "A3 Sportback e-tron". http://www.audi.de/de/brand/de/neuwagen/a3/a3-sportback-e-tron.html#layer=/de/brand/de/neuwagen/a3/a3-sportback-e-tron.engine_compare.8VAAPX2.techdata.html. Retrieved September 21, 2014. 
  26. Mark Kane (2014-09-24). "Germany Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales Report August 2014". InsideEVs.com. http://insideevs.com/germany-plug-electric-vehicle-sales-report-august-2014/. Retrieved 2014-09-29. 
  27. Bertel Schmitt (2014-12-03). "While EV sales rise, JATO counts 4,000 fewer Model S than Tesla". Daily Kanban. http://dailykanban.com/2014/12/ev-sales-rise-jato-counts-4000-fewer-model-s-tesla/. Retrieved 2014-12-06. 
  28. Jose Pontes (2014-10-15). "Germany September 2014". EVSales.com. http://www.ev-sales.blogspot.ca/2014/10/germany-september-2014.html. Retrieved 2014-12-06. 
  29. Eric Loveday (2013-10-25). "Audi Announces Early 2015 Launch of A3 Sportback E-tron Plug-In Hybrid in US". InsideEVs.com. http://insideevs.com/audi-confirms-early-2015-launch-of-a3-sportback-e-tron-plug-in-hybrid-in-us/. Retrieved 2013-10-26. 
  30. Szostech, Michael. "Audi A3 e-Tron Price". MECF. http://www.myaudia3etron.com/audi-a3-e-tron-price/. Retrieved 17 April 2015. 
  31. Lambert, Fred (2016-12-26). "10 electric cars coming in the next 3 years". Electrek. https://electrek.co/2016/12/26/10-electric-cars/. Retrieved 2016-12-26. "The vehicle is expected to follow the Q6 in 2019-2020)" Audi A9 . Mototech. Retrieved 2023-8-7
  32. Lambert, Fred (12 June 2017). "Audi previews new electric car factory: ‘Electric motors instead of internal combustion engines, batteries instead of fuel tanks’". https://electrek.co/2017/06/12/audi-electric-car-factory/. Retrieved 12 June 2017. "Audi opens reservations for its first all-electric vehicle: e-tron quattro". 24 April 2017. https://electrek.co/2017/04/24/audi-opens-reservations-all-electric-vehicle-e-tron-quattro/. Retrieved 24 April 2017. 
  33. "Audi opens reservations for its first all-electric vehicle: e-tron quattro". 24 April 2017. https://electrek.co/2017/04/24/audi-opens-reservations-all-electric-vehicle-e-tron-quattro/. Retrieved 24 April 2017. Lambert, Fred (18 April 2017). "Audi unveils new e-tron Sportback with ~300 miles of range, production starts in 2019". Electrek. https://electrek.co/2017/04/18/audi-e-tron-sportback-electric-2019/. Retrieved 18 April 2017. 
  34. Lambert, Fred (18 April 2017). "Audi unveils new e-tron Sportback with ~300 miles of range, production starts in 2019". Electrek. https://electrek.co/2017/04/18/audi-e-tron-sportback-electric-2019/. Retrieved 18 April 2017. http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/interview-audi-entwicklungs-vorstand-peter-mertens-9699913.html
  35. http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/news/interview-audi-entwicklungs-vorstand-peter-mertens-9699913.html
  36. Audi A9 . Mototech. Retrieved 2023-8-7
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