Thursday 15 July 2021

Audi e-tron range, battery and charging | DrivingElectric



Audi e-tron range, battery and charging | DrivingElectric

Skip to headerSkip to main contentSkip to footerMenuYour questions answeredReviewsNewsBuying adviceChargingUsed buying guidesVansSearchFind a car reviewMakeMakeAston MartinAudiBentleyBMWChevroletCitroenCupraDSFerrariFiatFordHondaHyundaiJaguarJeepKiaLand RoverLDVLEVCLexusLotusMaxusMazdaMcLarenMercedes-BenzMGMINIMitsubishiNissanPeugeotPolestarPorscheRenaultSEATSkodaSmartSsangYongSubaruSuzukiTeslaToyotaVauxhallVolkswagenVolvoModelModelIn-depth reviewsHomeAudie-tronAudi e-tron range, battery and chargingThe Audi e-tron gets impressive rapid-charging capability, but we'd expect better real-world range given the large batteryby Stephen Errity11 Dec 20201Verdict2Range, battery & charging - currently reading3Running costs4Electric motor, drive & performance5Interior & comfort6Practicality & boot space7Reliability & safetyOverall rating3.5 out of 5Range, battery & charging rating3.0 out of 5Buy used for less at BuyacarRangeBattery sizeWallbox charge timeRapid charge time180 miles71kWh (e-tron 50)10hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW)26mins (10-80%, 125kW)249 miles95kWh (e-tron 55)13hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW)38mins (10-80%, 155kW)The fact of the matter is, the Audi e-tron is a very heavy car. While the 249-mile range for the flagship e-tron 55 quattro is adequate, it's somewhat disappointing given the size of the battery and the cars is comes up against. The Mercedes EQC has a smaller 80kWh battery but manages 259 miles of range, while the Jaguar I-Pace records 292 miles.The e-tron can rapid-charge at 150kW, but a relative dearth of such stations in the UK right now means you'll be lucky to find one that can deliver that charging speed. It's normally only 50kW charging on offer at motorway services in the UK, which will top up the battery to 80% in about an hour and 15 minutes.Audi e-tron rangeThe 2019 Audi e-tron 55 returned a range of 249 miles in official tests, before it was upgraded for the more recent 2020 model year. However, we've driven the aforementioned car extensively in the UK and Europe, and found the average range to sit the wrong side of 200 miles – around 192 miles in real-world use.That said, the Jaguar i-Pace isn't much better, managing around 212 miles over varied roads in mild weather. This is in part due to the fact that – as with most electric cars – the e-tron keeps some of its battery capacity in reserve to help extend the battery's life. The e-tron has a usable battery capacity of 83.6kWh, which is very close to the usable capacity of the I-Pace.We've not yet driven the upgraded 2020 e-tron 55, which has a larger 95kWh battery and a claimed 271-mile range. Nor have we tried the new-for-2020 e-tron 50, with a smaller battery and claimed range of 180 miles. As soon as we do, we'll update this review with real-world range estimates for both.Charge timeThe Audi e-tron has the potential to charge very quickly indeed, as it's capable of charging at speeds of to 150kW – faster than the EQC's maximum capacity of 110kW and the I-Pace's top charging speed of 100kW. That'll take the battery from 20-80% capacity in around 30 minutes. The problem is that 150kW chargers are currently few and far between in the UK, so, by and large, you'll have to rely on 50kW units while out and about. That means a top-up time more like 90 minutes for the e-tron 55.You can also charge the e-tron at home, of course; a standard 7kW wallbox will charge the e-tron in around 12 hours and cost around £11 at the average domestic tariff of 13p/kWh. Of course, charging can be scheduled for off-peak hours, when you could halve that cost by taking advantage of cheaper tariffs.Battery warrantyLike Jaguar, Audi guarantees its electric vehicles' batteries for eight years or 100,000 miles; whichever comes first. That's on top of the standard manufacturer warranty of three years/60,000 miles, which covers the rest of the car. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee of battery performance, as there is with both Mercedes and Jaguar, both of which promise to replace the batteries if they drop below 70% of the as-new performance within eight years.PreviousVerdictNextRunning costsNext StepsUsed car dealsIn This Review1VerdictAudi's first production electric car is impressive, but also outclassed by rivals like the Jaguar I-Pace and Tesla Model X2Range, battery & charging - currently readingThe Audi e-tron gets impressive rapid-charging capability, but we'd expect better real-world range given the large battery3Running costsThe usual electric-car advantages apply here, but there's no getting around the fact the Audi e-tron is expensive to buy initially4Electric motor, drive & performanceThe Audi e-tron is comfortable and smooth but far from the last word in sportiness5Interior & comfortThe Audi e-tron has a fantastic interior and features some showstopping technology6Practicality & boot spaceSeven seats aren't an option, but in other respects the Audi e-tron is practical and family-friendly7Reliability & safetyThe Audi e-tron fares well in both of these areas, with loads of advanced driver aids and a five-star Euro NCAP scoree-tronShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via EmailMost PopularNew 2021 Honda HR-V hybrid SUV revealedHonda HR-VNew 2021 Honda HR-V hybrid SUV revealedNext-generation Honda HR-V will go on sale later in 2021 with pure-hybrid power only18 Feb 2021New hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars 2021NewsNew hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars 2021​As hybrid technology improves and government regulations get stricter, manufacturers are putting emphasis on hybrid models of all types and sizes. He…1 Feb 2021Best plug-in hybrid cars 2021Best carsBest plug-in hybrid cars 2021The best plug-in hybrid cars offer great fuel economy and very low running costs as long as you keep their batteries charged17 Feb 2021Skip to headerSkip to main contentSkip to footerAbout UsContact UsPrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyAuto ExpressBuyacarCarbuyerevoPrivacy PreferencesSign-up for our free e-mail newsletterGet the latest reviews, news, videos and deals direct to your inboxSign upCopyright © Dennis Publishing Limited 2021. All rights reserved.Driving Electric is a registered trademark.Follow us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on youtubeFollow us on Instagram

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