- The braking energy recuperation can increase the range by upto 30 per cent
- The E-Tron can produce up to 300 kW and do 0 to 100kmph in less than six seconds with a range of 400kilometres.
- It will break cover on 17 September.
Ahead of its official debut, Audi has revealed some key specifications of their upcoming all-electric SUV, the E-Tron. The German carmaker took the electric SUV to test it’s braking recuperation system to the Pikes Peak and came back claiming a 30 per cent boost in its driving range.
In simple terms, for every kilometre driven downhill at the famous Hill Climb venue, the SUV was able to gain an additional kilometer in range. On its 31 kilometer downhill drive, the electric SUV feeded so much energy back to the battery that it covered approximately the same distance again. The e-tron prototype recuperated energy of up to 300Nm of torque and 220 kW of electric power – more than 70 per cent of its operating energy input, claims the Ingolstadt-based carmaker. This was achieved because the E-Tron combines three different recuperation modes to recharge the battery pack. First, there’s the usual brake energy recuperation found in electric vehicles, second is the automatic coasting recuperation due to predictive driving technology, and third is the manual coasting recuperation using the shift paddles. This means, the E-Tron feeds back energy to battery in practically all braking maneuvers.
Apart from the recuperation technology, Audi has finally revealed the technical details of the E-Tron. The E-Tron employs two electric motors with a combined output of 265kW (365bhp) and 561Nm. However, this peak performance can be delivered only for up to 60 seconds. But the electric SUV can accelerate from a standstill to the electronically limited top speed of 200 kmph several times consecutively without loss of power. By shifting from drive range D to S and fully depressing the right-hand pedal, the driver can activate ‘boost mode’ which nis available for a mere eight seconds. But when in this boost mode, the drivetrain produces 300kW (400bhp) and 664Nm. The Audi e-tron prototype can sprint from 0 to 100 kmph in less than six seconds. The most interesting figure is the 400 kilometres of electric range from its 95kWh battery pack (under the new WLTP cycle).
The E-Tron is amongst the new breed of electric SUVs coming our way. Audi is expected to reveal it’s first pure electric SUV on 17 September. It will go up against the Tesla Model X, Jaguar iPace and the upcoming similar products namely Mercedes-Benz EQC and BMW iNEXT
