Admit it. You thought about it too: You'd like to buy an electric car, to enjoy its economy, its endless torque, its linearity, its power, its... quietness, its reliability and all its other advantages. But you reconsidered, because "where do I charge it? And, if I have to go on a trip, will I stay on the road?" Audi says that's a myth. And they set out to debunk it.
So with the e-tron, Audi is busting perhaps the biggest myth surrounding electric cars: The difficulties on long journeys due to limited autonomy. How? By making a non-stop driving trip of more than 1,600 km from Slovenia to the Netherlands, with only a stop for a short recharge (with rapid charging in the 80% of the battery capacity in less than half an hour), proving that the advantages of the Audi e-tron, in addition to performance and comfort, include autonomy!
Ten European countries in 24 hours with short stops to recharge! The Audi e-tron really impresses with its long-distance capabilities. On 20 August, nine journalists from the international special press set off on a long-distance test, covering more than 1,600 km in 24 hours. The start was made at Lake Bled in Slovenia and ended in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The electric SUV with its extremely long range and very short charging times proved to be a complete proposition in every respect and, combined with its delightful dynamic characteristics and comfortable interior, offered an unbeatable "electrified" experience to the participants!
Lake Bled is located in an idyllic landscape on the edge of the Pokljuka plateau in northern Slovenia. From there, three Audi e-tron 55 quattro with three journalists per car set out to cross 10 European countries in just 24 hours!
On this more than 1,600-kilometre journey, the three Audi e-trons crossed Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium and arrived in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. On roads of varying morphology, the e-tron, Audi's first wide production electric car, showed how comfortable, dynamic and enjoyable it is on long journeys.
The Audi e-tron is the standard for the new era of electrification. "Our electric SUV is an outstanding long-distance car because it ideally combines high levels of comfort, efficiency and performance," explains Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler, Member of the Board of Management of Audi in the area of Technology Development. "On the 24-hour journey from Slovenia to the Netherlands, we demonstrated that just as important as the long range is the very satisfactory, in terms of time, rapid charging at 150 kW."
Fast charging at 150 kW
Thanks to DC fast charging at high-power stations, the Audi e-tron's lithium-ion battery reaches its 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes an hour - almost as long as a coffee break - saving time on long journeys. The key to high-performance charging is the complex thermal management, which also ensures long battery life combined with consistently ideal performance, even under high load. During the route, the "crews" had the opportunity to recharge at seven different stations: in Carinthia, South Tyrol, Vorarlberg, the canton of Zurich, Breisgau, the Eifel and finally near Liege, in all cases with fast charging.
Currently, the owner of an Audi e-tron can charge at around 100,000 charging points scattered across 19 EU countries - and the number is growing all the time.
Combining performance, efficiency and comfort
Thanks to the different topography of the route, the Audi e-tron 55 quattro also had the opportunity to demonstrate its top dynamic characteristics. On the uphill routes in the Alps it made full use of its maximum power of 300 kW and torque of 664 Nm. On downhill gradients, the energy recovery function - up to 220 kW and 300 Nm - converts kinetic energy into electrical energy. The electric all-wheel drive offered optimum traction and top grip on hairpins in South Tyrol, thanks to the almost instantaneous fully variable torque distribution between the two axles.
On the flat routes along the Rhine, in Belgium and the Netherlands, at constant speeds, the advanced aerodynamics, with a drag coefficient of only 0.27, contributed to low energy consumption. But also during the entire journey the electric SUV achieved a superb performance combined with excellent driving comfort and a low noise level comparable to conventional luxury models. The same applies to space, which at the rear is particularly elevated for the feet thanks to the drivetrain configuration. Leather seats with massage function, an ioniser for air quality and interior cabin lighting transform the interior into a comfortable and relaxed lounge on night drives, turning every moment into a unique experience.
