Audi 2010 Annual Report Download - page 22

tall, the exciting two-seater has a
221 kW (300 hp) twin-turbo V6 TDI
engine on the rear axle and two
electric motors with a combined
64 kW (87 hp) on the front axle. The
e-tron Spyder can combine the strong
650 Nm of torque from its TDI engine
and the total of 352 Nm of its two
electric motors during acceleration in
a process known as “boosting.”
Even in the Electric Age, customer
requirements will develop diff erently.
Besides the requirements of the
markets, the intended purpose of the
electric vehicles also plays a major
role. An all-electric car will establish
itself in the short-range mobility
segment in the medium term. Long
trips, on the other hand, are forecast
to be the domain of hybrid drives.
There are still many customer
suitability challenges remaining to be
solved with respect to costs, range
and battery recharging time, as well
as the real potential for CO2 reduction.
The entire energy balance must be
considered whenever talking about
sustainable mobility, and this is
largely a function of how the
necessary electricity is generated.
Conventional electricity has a CO2 load
of around 120 grams per kilometer.
This corresponds to the value for a
modern mid-size car featuring a
combustion engine. If the electricity,
on the other hand, is generated using
renewable sources, this is reduced to
just fi ve grams with electric motors.
“Audi electric cars will run on
sustainably generated electricity,”
emphasizes Audi Chairman Rupert
Stadler. “We are promoting the
construction of solar and wind energy
units in order to achieve this goal.”
In 2010, for example, Audi entered
into a partnership with the industry
initiative Dii GmbH, whose
long-term objective is to realize the
DESERTEC vision. This vision describes
the prospects of supplying Europe,
the Middle East and North Africa
with solar and wind energy from the
deserts.
As a premium manufacturer, Audi
must continue to further develop its
core competences in the interest of
electric mobility. Design, driving
dynamics, effi ciency and lightweight
construction will continue to be
decisive factors in the future. Dietrich
Engelhart, who is Head of Vehicle
Electrifi cation Strategy at Audi, feels
that customer delight will continue to
be key to success in the future.
“Customers expect performance and
emotions from Audi, and we must
continue to meet this expectation in
the future.”
The Audi e-tron is sure to generate
enthusiasm. Audi wants to bring a
limited edition of the vehicle to the
roads in late 2012. The fi rst Audi
high-performance sports car with
all-electric drive proves that driving in
the Electric Age will not have anything
to do with sacrifi ce, but instead will
open up new dimensions of driving
dynamics.
The study’s four asynchronous motors –
two each on the front and rear axles –
transfer the power to the wheels via
a single-speed transmission and short
drive shafts. With peak output of
230 kW (313 hp) and with up to
600 Nm of torque available from a
standstill, the Audi e-tron delivers
breathtaking performance. It cata-
pults from 0 to 100 kilometers an
hour in just 4.8 seconds.
The liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery
and the power electronics lie directly
behind the passenger compartment.
The result is an excellent center of
gravity and a load distribution of
42:58 between the front and rear
axles – similar to the production R8.
The fi rst short test drive with the
e-tron Silvretta shows the potential of
the electric powertrain. The high-
performance sports car shoots
forward as if it were being pulled by
an elastic band, with turbo-like,
nearly silent acceleration. An
impressive driving experience, as
Stefan Keller, Head of Electrifi cation
Processes, can confi rm. “The response
is uniformly positive at every driving
event. Everyone is enthusiastic.”
According to Keller, what now needs
The Detroit showcar is a compact sports car with two electric motors on the rear axle
producing a combined 150 kW (204 hp) (left). The e-tron Silvretta proved its maturity at the
fi rst Silvretta E-Auto Rally Montafon.
e-tron: the evolution of mobility
e-tron SilvrettaDetroit showcar Audi e-tron
Audi e-tron
Design, driving dynamics,
effi ciency and lightweight
construction will continue to be
decisive factors in the future.
20
Audi the pioneer
The original model of the e-tron family
will be launched on the market as a small
production series in 2012 (below).
Audi is completely rethinking the
electric car with the e-tron.
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