A small 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the rear seat of the Audi A3 e-Tron provides electrical energy. EV batteries remain too expensive for mainstream buyers. Hence puny sales.
Audi said today that it develop a battery-electric SUV with a range of more than 500 kilometers in conjunction with LG Chem and Samsung. The two Audi suppliers plan to invest in battery cell technology in Europe. They will supply the Ingolstadt-based automaker from their European plants.
The cell modules – it is hoped – will offer high performance far beyond the only Audi EV extant, the A3 Sportback Plug-in hybrid, aka Sportback e-tron on sale this fall.
“This will allow us to supply a technological solution that makes electric cars even more attractive for our customers,” claimed Dr. Bernd Martens, Member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG for Procurement.
The Sportback e-tron has a 1.4-liter engine with a six-speed transmission. Combined with a liquid-cooled, permanent magnet electric motor, the A3 e-tron produces 204 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.
A relatively small 8.8-kWh lithium-ion battery pack provides electrical energy storage and is under the rear seat, allowing for a 13 cubic-foot trunk. The battery pack is less than half the size of the one used on the Gen2 Chevy Volt, which means its pure electric range will likely be limited to under 20 miles, maybe way under.
