Audi A1 e-tron to hit Munich streets for trial | Car Advice

Car Advice
  • Home
  • »  Audi A1 e-tron to hit Munich streets for trial

Audi A1 e-tron to hit Munich streets for trial

By Brett Davis |

Audi has announced it is launching 20 Audi A1 e-trons into the streets of Munich for trialling purposes developed by Audi AG and the Technical University of Munich.

The Audi A1 e-tron is a plug-in electric car powered by a lithium-ion battery pack which offers a range of 50km, but, it’s also backed by a very small range-extending, petrol-powered rotary engine. Once this is engaged, the car is said to achieve a range of around 116km.

To accommodate the 20-vehicle project, 200 electric charging stations will be set up thanks to the Model Region Electromobility Munich initiative provided by the German Federal Ministry of Transport.

The car outputs around 78kW and has a top speed of 130km/h making it the ideal city runabout also capable of long between-city journeys.

Audi and German institutions hope to collect data in terms of the demands the vehicles place upon the infrastructure and also test the cars for convenience and workability.

The project is scheduled to be underway by the middle of 2011.


 

Related Articles

3

Five percent of Audi sales could be electric by 2020
Following the debut of the Audi A1 e-tron at the Geneva Motor Show, the German brand’s technology chief says five percent of its total vehicle sales by 2020 could be electric. 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...

6

Audi A1 e-tron revealed at Geneva 2010
The all new Audi A1 steps up the fuel efficiency game by combining a 254cc single rotor rotary engine (also known as a Wankel) positioned under the back seat in combination with a 74kW electric motor that uses a 12kWh lithium ion battery. While Audi isn't exact fuel consumption figures, they estimate the Audi A1 e-tron will use 1.

  • ABMPSV

    At least this is a start toward full electric cars. Improve the range and petrol engines will gone in 20 years.

    • Lazybones

      The short range should hopefully mean a competitive price. At 50kms thats only a tad shorter than the volt. The pack is rated at 12KWHs, I think the volt is about 16KWH and the leaf about 24KWH.

  • Fenno

    any news on this rotary engine at all?
    Sounds like an interesting concept.

  • PT

    Wow! That’s cool. I’d also like to see the specs on that engine – rotaries consume more fuel than conventional engines?

    • ABMPSV

      The engine size is only 254cc!!!

  • ABMPSV

    More info: Continuous output is rated at 45 kW (61 hp), with peak power of 75 kW (102 hp) 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 Audi A1 e-tron can drive 50 kilometers (31.07 miles) emission-free in city traffic on the powerful battery. 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 fuel tank holds 12 liters. Source Audi.com

  • F1MotoGP

    In Germany Audi A1 cheapest is 15800 Euro for 1.2TFSI manual and most expensive is 1.4TFSI 7 DSG 21150 Euro.