Types of electric vehicles.
1: Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): The vehicle uses electric motors as its only source of power to drive down the road. It stores energy in a battery and gets recharged using an electrical outlet at home or by plugging into a public charging station. BEVs rely exclusively on the battery and electric motors to operate. (e.g. the Audi e-tron 55 quattro).Â2: Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV): A vehicle that uses both a battery and electric motor, as well as a traditional gasoline engine. If the vehicle’s battery runs low, the engine automatically turns on to continue driving. The vehicle’s battery can be charged using an electrical outlet, charging station or, in certain situations, is recharged using the vehicle’s engine. (i.e. Audi Q5 TFSI e).Â
3: Mild hybrid: A vehicle that runs solely using engine power but has the ability to save energy by turning off the engine when the vehicle is stopped and in turn using the stored energy to power auxiliary features (i.e. A6, A7, A8, Q8). Mild hybrids do not plug in.
How far can I go with one charge?
The range of an electric vehicle, similar to that of a combustion engine, relies on a number of factors such as driving behaviour, accessories used, temperature, terrain, driving route and charging frequency. However, in order to provide you with peace of mind for your journey, the e-tron 55 quattro comes equipped with a route planner that easily shows you not only the charging stations along your route but also how many charges you will need to reach your destination.Do extreme cold or warm temperatures affect the e-tron 55 quattro battery?
In order to reduce the impact of extreme heat or cold temperatures on the battery, we recommend using the pre-conditioning feature on the e-tron 55 quattro while plugged in, allowing the battery energy to be focused on driving rather than heating or cooling.How long does it take for the e-tron 55 quattro to charge?
The charging time for the e-tron 55 quattro will depend on the type of charger used and how much energy is currently left in the battery. Assuming a completely discharged battery (0 percent), with a Level 1 (120 V) charger, the e-tron 55 quattro can be charged in approximately 100 hours.² With a Level 2 (240 V) charger at 9.6 kW, the e-tron 55 quattro can be recharged in approximately 10 hours.² Of course, if the battery is only 50% discharged, the time to charge is reduced accordingly. The fastest charging time possible is through a Level 3 DC fast charger capable of 150 kW, which can recharge the e-tron 55 quattro in as little as 30 minutes to 80%.²Will Virtual Mirrors be available in Canada?
Unfortunately, virtual mirrors will not be available on the e-tron 55 quattro in Canada due to current Canadian regulations.​What is the difference between charging levels?
Level 1: Uses 120 Volts. This is the slowest form of charging and is suited more for emergencies than for regular use. On the e-tron 55 quattro, it takes approximately 100 hours² to recharge the battery using a Level 1 charger. Level 2: Uses 240 Volts. This is the most common form of charging. The e-tron 55 quattro comes standard with a charging unit capable of either 120 or 240 Volts.ÂOn a Level 2 charger at 9.6 kW, the battery recharge time takes approximately 10 hours.² Using the Audi charging system requires a NEMA 14-50 receptacle to be installed by a certified electrician at your place of residence or wherever you plan to charge. The e-tron 55 quattro charging system requires a dedicated circuit capable of supporting a 40-amp continuous load. In order to ensure your home is equipped, we suggest that those living in condominiums, townhouses or other residential type buildings contact their housing/condo boards to ensure: a) that an EV charger can be installed at your location, and b) that there is enough power to supply and fulfill your charging requirements.Â
Level 3: Also known as DC Fast Charging, this Level is typically only found at public charging stations. It uses much higher voltage and amperage to deliver more charging power directly to the vehicle’s battery. With the Audi e-tron 55 quattro, charging time to 80% is roughly 30 minutes when using a 150 kW Level 3 charger.²