Audi will be introducing a new power rating for its electrically driven SUV on the market in the coming year: the Audi e-tron 50 quattro. Its two electric motors have an output of 230 kW and develop 540 Nm (398.3 lb-ft) of torque. With a gross energy content of 71 kWh, the battery provides for a range of over 300 kilometers (186.4 mi) in the WLTP cycle. In Germany, the SUV—the entry-level model in the e-tron family—will start selling for less than 70,000 euros, which means that it fulfills the conditions for the environmental bonus. The Audi e-tron 50 quattro combines a high level of efficiency and sporty performance. Just like the model originally launched on the market, the entry-level version also has an electric motor at the front and rear axles. With a combined total of 230 kW and 540 Nm of torque, they accelerate the electric SUV from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.0 seconds. Speed is electronically governed only at 190 km/h. In order to achieve the highest efficiency, only the rear electric motor is active in most driving situations, while the front electric motor is activated predictively when needed. The regulation of the electric all-wheel drive is extremely fast, highly connected and very precise. In combination with modern suspension components including air suspension and the low vehicle center of gravity, it provides excellent dynamics and stability. The battery unit of the Audi e-tron 50 quattro comprises 324 prismatic cells combined in 27 modules. These store up to 71 kWh of energy – enough for a range of more than 300 kilometers in the WLTP cycle. The high efficiency can be attributed to the newly calibrated drivetrain and various optimizations to the high-voltage system. The lower gross weight, which also reduces running resistance, contributes to this as does the efficient thermal management system with its standard thermal pump. This system regulates the temperature of the interior as well as the battery and cools the electric motors, the power electronics and the charger. In this way it ensures that the high-voltage components enjoy a long service life and enables fast charging with direct current (DC). The Audi e-tron 50 quattro can charge with up to 120 kW at a so-called high-power charging station. This means that the electric SUV is all set for the next long-distance stretch of a journey in approximately half an hour. Alternatively, the battery can be supplied with alternating current (AC). At a charging capacity of 11 kW, this takes about seven hours. After the market introduction, a second, on-board charging device will be added to the offering as an option. It will allow charging using up to 22 kW at AC stations. For charging at home, the Audi e-tron 50 quattro is equipped with the compact mobile charging system as standard. It supports a charging capacity of up to 11 kW when connected to a 400 volt industrial outlet. Up to 2.3 kW are possible with a 230 volt domestic outlet. Like the more powerful version of the electric SUV, the Audi e-tron 50 quattro also recuperates energy via its two electric motors, preferably the rear one, during more than 90 percent of all deceleration actions. This means that the energy from practically all normal braking maneuvers is recovered and fed back into the battery. The newly developed wheel brake system with electrohydraulic actuation is activated only above a deceleration of more than 0.3 g. This results in short braking distances in all situations. The standard efficiency assistant also helps the driver to adopt an economical driving style through automatic recuperation and predictive information in the Audi virtual cockpit. The system uses radar sensors, camera images, navigation data, and Car to X information to detect the traffic environment and the route. In combination with the adaptive cruise assist, the efficiency assistant can also brake and accelerate the electric SUV predictively. The Audi e-tron 50 quattro, which is being developed in the carbon-neutral plant in Brussels, will debut in the Middle East markets in the first quarter of 2020. — SG
