Electric Cars Report » Audi A1

Audi Sees Five Percent Electric Car Sales by 2020

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 13:11:56 +0000

Audi expects 5 percent of its total sales to be electric cars by 2020, the German brand’s technology chief told Automotive News.

At the Geneva auto show last week, Audi unveiled the A1 e-tron, a nearly production-ready concept developed from its new A1 subcompact.

Although it has not yet officially announced production plans, Audi’s Michael Dick has revealed the A1 e-tron is very likely to hit showrooms after an anticipated three-year development phase.

The first e-tron, which debuted at the 2009 IAA in Frankfurt, is a near-series high-performance sports car with electric motors for all four wheels. The study shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2010 is a lightweight, compact two-seater with two electric motors on the rear axle. At Geneva Motor Show, Audi showed an A1 e-tron.

New rumors are cropping up about a possible successor to the A2. The new A2 would likely be A1-based and use an electric powertrain, possibly sourced from the A1 e-tron concept.

”The strength of the electric car clearly lies in the urban mobility area, where the demand for emission-free local transportation will strongly increase,” said Michael Dick.

[source: Automotive News / Subscription required]

Audi Working on A2 Electric

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:07:10 +0000

Audi is reportedly working on an A2 electric car based on an A1 e-tron concept model which Audi showcased at the Geneva Motor Show.

The report comes out of statements by Audi CEO Rupert Stadler made during the Geneva Show.

The A1 e-tron concept shown last week is an extended range EV (EREV) powered by a Wankel-type engine. It has a 30 mile range on batteries alone, and then can go an extended distance using the Wankel as a generator to charge the batteries.

The A2 is expected by 2014. A decision on a U.S. model has not been made.

Audi A1 E-Tron Unveiled at Geneva

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:36:53 +0000

Audi is expanding its new e-tron electric model family whithe A1 e-tron, which Audi is showing at the Geneva Motor Show.

The A1 e-tron has a range of more than 31 miles in city traffic, and its peak output of 102PS also makes it fun to drive. A compact internal combustion engine recharges the battery when its energy is depleted.

The powerful front-mounted, transverse electric motor thrusts the A1 e-tron forward with authority. The car sprints from a standstill to 62mph in only 10.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of more than 80mph. The compact MCV is a zero-emissions vehicle for the first 31.07 miles that it is underway, such as in city traffic. The battery comprises a package of lithium-ion modules mounted in the floor assembly in front of the rear axle.
A small, single-rotor Wankel engine is used in this near-series concept vehicle to increase the range in exceptional circumstances. This “range extender” powers a generator that produces 15 kW of charging power. If the range extender is used to recharge the battery, the A1 e-tron can cover an additional 124 miles of range. According to a draft standard for the computation of fuel consumption for range extender vehicles, this represents a fuel consumption of 148.7mpg – a CO2 equivalent of only 45 g/km.

The e-tron model family from Audi is just a few months old, but it already has a number of members, for each of which Audi has chosen a different drive technology. The first e-tron, which debuted at the 2009 IAA in Frankfurt, is a near-series high-performance sports car with electric motors for all four wheels. The study shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2010 is a lightweight, compact two-seater with two electric motors on the rear axle.

The A1 e-tron now presents another approach – a compact electric car in the premium class. The four-passenger, two-door MCV city car was designed specifically for use in the metropolitan areas of Europe and North America and in the rapidly growing megacities of Asia and South America. The Audi A1 e-tron always drives on electric power; its internal combustion engine is only used to recharge the battery in isolated cases.

The synchronous electric motor of the Audi A1 e-tron is mounted transversely at the front of the car. Its low mounting position has a positive effect on the vehicle’s centre of gravity. Continuous output is rated at 61PS, with peak power of 102PS available in short bursts. 150 Nm (110.63 lb-ft) of torque is continuously available, and peak torque is 240 Nm (177.01 lb-ft).

The electric motor sends its power to the front wheels via a single-speed transmission. The elegant, retractable selector lever on the console of the centre tunnel used to choose between “Drive,” “Reverse,” and “Neutral” was taken from the first Audi e-tron.

The power electronics are mounted in the engine compartment above the electric motor. The most important components are the pulse-controlled inverter, which serves as the controller between the electric motor and the battery; the DC converter, which connects the high-voltage network with the 14 volt electrical system; a breaker unit to protect the high-voltage components; and the charging module. The socket for the standard charging plug is located behind the rings in the single-frame grille of the Audi A1 e-tron. A fully depleted battery can be recharged in approximately three hours from the 380 volt grid. A display immediately adjacent to the plug-in connection shows the current charge status and the charging time remaining.

The battery pack: a compact T arranged below the floor
The energy storage unit is arranged below the floor, where it is ideal for the centre of gravity and weight distribution. The battery pack is shaped like a T, with the short “transverse beam” filling the rear section of the centre tunnel and the “cross-beam” filling that area in front of the rear axle where the fuel tank is otherwise located. The 380 volt lithium-ion rechargeable battery has a nominal energy content of 12 kilowatt hours. It comprises 96 prismatic cells and weighs less than 150 kilograms (330.69 lb).

The Audi A1 e-tron can drive 31 miles emission-free in city traffic on the powerful battery. On longer trips, the battery is recharged by a particularly compact internal combustion engine mounted below the luggage compartment.

The range extender
The A1 e-tron concept car has a Wankel engine as a range extender, but other compact concepts are also possible. The small single-rotor Wankel has a chamber volume of 254 cc and runs at a constant 5,000 rpm in its peak efficiency window. The electronics also consider navigation data such as the destination and route profile to automatically activate the range extender as needed. The driver can also turn the range extender on and off as necessary with the push of a button. The fuel tank holds 12 liters.

The great strengths of the Wankel engine are the nearly vibration-free and quiet operation, the small dimensions, and the extremely low weight. Together with the generator, which is powered by the Wankel engine and produces 15 kW of electric power, the complete assembly weighs only around 70 kilograms. This weight also includes the special power electronics, the intake, exhaust, and cooling unit, plus the insulation and the subframe.

Driving experience
The first defining impression that the driver of the Audi A1 e-tron gets is that of nearly total silence. Even the Wankel engine in the back can barely be heard when it is running.

The second characteristic perception is the power of the electric motor, nearly all of which is available instantly and thrusts the Audi A1 e-tron forward with authority. The innovative Mega City Vehicle, which despite its complex drive technology weighs only 1,190 kilograms delivers zero-emission driving fun in a modern and sophisticated manner. The vehicle accelerates from 0 to 62mph in 10.2 seconds and has a top speed of more than 80mph.

The Audi A1 e-tron can also cover longer distances if the range extender charges the battery. The extra range, which is intended primarily for interurban driving, is 124 miles.

According to the draft standard, the two different operating modes yield a fuel economy figure of 148.7mpg, which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 45 g/km. In electric mode, there are zero local CO2 emissions – the compact A1 e-tron is thus ecological and economical.

The third impression that the A1 e-tron makes is that of a larger car. The compact two-door boasts all of the strengths of the new A1 model series – the carefully tuned, sporty chassis with specially designed 18 inch alloy wheels and 215/35 R18 tyres; the generous, “grown-up” interior; the excellent fit and finish; and a multitude of high-end equipment.

The dark shade “ebony” dominates the interior. The seats – with stone gray seams – and the headliner are in “Alabaster White.”

Geneva Preview: Audi A1 E-Tron Concept

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:07:33 +0000

In Geneva Audi is exhibiting the A1 e-tron design study, which shows that Audi’s expertise in electric drive systems extends down into the compact car segment.

At the end of 2012 Audi will launch the e-tron electric car that was seen last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA). A small series will be built, and will be the first electric car to reach the market.

Audi will be expanding its “e-tron” model family step by step: the A1 e-tron design study that the company is exhibiting at the Geneva Motor Show is an innovative Mega City Vehicle (MCV). Like the sports cars in the same family, it is electrically propelled and has a range of more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) in city traffic. With a peak power output of 75 kW (102 hp), the A1 e-tron is also fun to drive.

When the battery’s energy supply is exhausted, it is recharged by an exceptionally compact “range extender” consisting of a single-rotor Wankel engine and an electrical generator with a charge rating of up to 15 kW.

This device gives the A1 e-tron an additional range of 200 kilometers (124 miles). According to the draft standard for determining the fuel consumption of range-extender vehicles, the mean fuel consumption is 1.9 liters per 100 kilometers (123.8 US mpg), equivalent to CO2 emissions of only 45 g/km (72.42 g/mile).