Audi planned to jettison certain vehicles in its E-tron electric-vehicle program because of high development costs and low projected demand, particularly in Europe, which offers an alternative scenario: It couldn’t cancel the cars because their production plans never existed. According to Jeff Curry, director of e-mobility and sustainability strategy at Audi of America, the company’s immediate E.V. production plans center on plug-in hybrids, not purely electric vehicles and Audi could be accused of feeding speculation about its battery-electric plans with frequent pronouncements about becoming the leading seller of premium E.V.’s by 2020. The A3 e-tron can travel about 87 miles on a charge and can be recharged in about nine hours with a 220-volt household socket and the driver can choose among three driving modes dynamic, auto and efficiency and also four settings that adjust the degree of energy recovery during braking and coasting. The car maker plans to begin rolling out a plug-in hybrid version of the A3 in 2014, also under the e-tron banner with other plug -in models expected and Audi said it is still evaluating the market for pure electric models.
The Audi A3 e-tron is an all-around vehicle for future mobility. A powerful electric motor and a lithium-ion battery impart to this compact car, which weighs less than 1.6 metric tons – agile performance and impressive cruising range. This technical study has already provided a preview of potential series-production solutions. The permanent magnet synchronous motor in the A3 e-tron supplies a continuous output of 60 kW (82 hp) and a peak output of 85 kW (114 hp). Maximum torque is a potent 270 Nm (199 lb-ft), with the power delivered to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. Energy storage is provided by the lithium-ion battery, which is located in multiple blocks under the luggage compartment floor, under the rear seat and in the center tunnel. It stores 26.5 kWh of usable energy at 380 volts and weighs 300 kilograms (661.39 lb). Water flows around the 30 modules which constitute this battery; the waste heat is utilized to heat the vehicle's interior. At low temperatures, the system is aided by an electric PTC heating element; an air conditioner is activated in hot weather.
The power electronics module in the engine compartment converts the battery's direct current (DC) to alternating current; a DC converter couples the 12-volt electrical system with the high-voltage system. The Audi A3 e-tron can be recharged in about nine hours with a 230-volt household socket. On a single battery charge, this compact car can cover around 140 km (86.99 miles). It powers the car from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 11.2 seconds and on up to a top speed of 145 km/h (90.10 mph). The driver of an A3 e-tron can decide how sporty or economical driving should be by switching among three modes of operation dynamic, auto and efficiency as well as four settings which adjust the degree of energy recovery during braking and coasting phases. This technology study, with a Glacier White paint finish, sports an understated appearance, with its set of wheels and the interior both borrowed from production models. Its special features include seat covers made of an Alcantara/leather blend, which feels warmer than pure leather in cold weather and a heated windshield. The latter keeps the glass free of condensation and ice while heating the interior much more efficiently than a conventional climate-control system. The equipment and data specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany.
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