Fast charging Down Under

The Audi e-tron prototype has made its Australian debut .

Ahead of its arrival Down Under in the second half of next year, the Audi e-tron prototype has made its first appearance in Australia.

25 October, 2018


The Audi e-tron prototype has continued its globe-trotting ways, appearing as a very special guest at the launch of the first Chargefox ultra-rapid charging station in Australia.

The new charging stations will allow the Audi e-tron – due to be launched in Australian in the second-half of next year – to charge at its full 150kW fast-charging capacity, replenishing 80 percent of its 400km-plus range in just 30 minutes. 

“Audi Australia is delighted to be announced as a Foundation Partner of the ultra-rapid Chargefox network,” said Paul Sansom, Managing Director of Audi Australia.

“This network of ultra-rapid chargers will allow Audi e-tron owners to fully enjoy the benefits of EV motoring on long journeys, as well as the everyday urban environment. By the time the Audi e-tron arrives here in 2019, the majority of the 21 chargers will be built, which will provide owners with every reassurance to tackle long distances.

“Our partnership with Chargefox shows that Audi Australia is committed to the future of electric vehicles in this country, and is laying the foundations for the success of our growing range of EVs in the coming years. By 2025, Audi will have 20 either full-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles across our model range, and so this announcement is a very important step for us,” Mr Sansom said.

"This network of ultra-rapid chargers will allow Audi e-tron owners to fully enjoy the benefits of EV motoring on long journeys..."

"The Audi e-tron is the first series-production vehicle that can charge at fast charging stations with direct current (DC) at up to 150kW."

The Audi e-tron prototype is the precursor to the recently unveiled Audi e-tron, the brand’s first fully electrically powered series production model. A full size SUV, it boasts ample space for five occupants and total luggage capacity of 660 litres, as well as offering incredible performance from its fully electric drive.

Two powerful electric motors deliver a system output of up to 300kW and 664Nm of torque that sees the Audi e-tron accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds with an electronically governed top speed of 200km/h.

The Audi e-tron can cover more than 400 kilometres on a single charge in the WLTP test cycle, thanks largely to the innovative recuperation system, which is responsible for up to 30 percent of the range. Whether by means of coasting recuperation when the driver releases the accelerator, or by means of braking recuperation when the brake pedal is depressed, the e-tron’s electric motors function as a generator and convert the kinetic energy of the Audi e-tron into electric energy. At up to 0.3 g of deceleration, the electric SUV recuperates solely via the electric motors, which is the case well over 90 percent of the time. 

The Audi e-tron is the first series-production vehicle that can charge at fast charging stations with direct current (DC) at up to 150kW. This means that the car is all set for the next long-distance stretch of a journey in around half an hour.