Audi’s engineers say that they have gained a wealth of experience from the 1.4 million kilometres covered as part of the Electric Mobility Showcase.
The brand provided 80 Audi A1 e-tron prototypes and 40 production models of the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron for the four-year support programme conducted by the German government and the automotive industry. Trial participants have come to appreciate electric driving as a new and very attractive form of mobility.
Ahead of the closing conference held last Thursday in Leipzig, Audi revealed positive results for both of its models. With the Audi A1 e-tron, a prototype electric car with range extender, users quickly learned to trust in the technology, with the result that they were able to make extensive use of the car’s all-electric range. By the end of the trial, 87 per cent of the distances travelled by the participants were being covered using electric power alone.
In the second phase of the Electric Mobility Showcase programme, the trial participants in the 40 Audi A3 Sportback e-tron cars used all-electric mode for 70 per cent of the distances travelled. Though the compact models with their plug-in hybrid technology are also well suited to long journeys, the test drivers usually covered less than 50 kilometres a day. As a result, they stayed within the vehicles’ electric range.
In fact, around half of all routine trial trips made by the users were shorter than 10 kilometres. One participant, who had a particularly fuel-efficient driving style, refuelled only once during a five-month period, despite covering 7,700 kilometres in his Audi trial car.
All in all, Audi concludes that the participants’ experience with clean, quiet, and progressive electric mobility was a very positive one. However, the degree of satisfaction depended greatly on how conveniently they had been able to charge their vehicles.
