Audi displays electric A3 at Geneva

Geneva, March 5, 2013: Audi is working intently to electrify the drivetrain using plug-in hybrid technology. The car – the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron – is on display at the ongoing 2013 Geneva Motor Show.

With 150 kW (204 hp) of system power and 350 Nm (258.15 lb-ft) of system torque, sporty performance is for the asking. The car accelerates from 0 to 100kph in 7.6 seconds on its way to a top speed of 222kph.

According to the ECE standard for plug-in hybrid cars, the five-door model consumes on average just 1.5 litres per 100km which corresponds to CO2 emissions of 35 grams per km (56.33 g/mile). In pure electric mode, the A3 Sportback e-tron achieves a top speed of 130kph with a range of up to 50km. The A3 Sportback e-tron uses the highly efficient concept of a parallel hybrid. The combustion engine is a modified 1.4 TFSI, which develops 110 kW (150 hp) and 250 Nm (184.39 lb-ft) of torque. The TFSI operates in tandem with an electric motor that generates 75 kW and 330 Nm (243.40 lb-ft) of power.

The disc-shaped electric motor is integrated into a newly designed six-speed e-S tronic, which transfers the power to the front wheels. The two powerplants complement each other. The electric motor develops peak torque from start to around 2000rpm, and the TFSI’s maximum pulling power is available in a range from 1750 to 4000rpm.

The A3 Sportback e-tron’s energy store is a lithium-ion battery system installed in a space-efficient, crash-protected location in the floor, beneath the rear bench seat. The high-voltage battery, inside a housing made mainly from aluminium, has a capacity of 8.8 kWh. It comprises eight modules with a total of 96 cells.

A liquid cooling system with its own low-temperature circuit keeps the battery in the optimum temperature range. This sophisticated technology is key to the power and stamina of the electric drive unit, which remains available at low ambient temperatures.

The power electronics are housed in the engine compartment and convert the direct current from the battery into alternating current to power the motor. The compact unit, with integral DC-DC converter to supply the 12V electrical system shares the same cooling circuit as the battery and charging device. The A3 Sportback e-tron can be driven with just the combustion engine, just the electric drive or in hybrid mode. The driver can choose to have both powerplants active at the same time (‘boosting’). When the driver lets up on the accelerator, they both deactivate temporarily (‘gliding’). In this way, engine braking torque is eliminated and efficiency increases.

Three driving programmes are selected using the EV button and the e-tron’s selector lever. The EV characteristic map covers the electric mode; the D program makes the car run especially efficiently, and in the S plane it is notably sporty.

Meanwhile, Audi plans a range of new online services for its electrified vehicles under its Audi connect umbrella policy. These will enable the driver to activate and monitor a whole raft of functions such as charging processes and pre-conditioning of the interior climate conveniently from their smart phone.