Audi Sees EV Range Becoming Less Important In The Future As Charging Infrastructure Improves

Audi has the largest EV lineup in America as the automaker already offers five different models including the recently launched Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback.

We’ll have more to say about the crossovers in our upcoming review, but we recently talked EVs with Audi of America President Daniel Weissland. During a wide-ranging discussion, we asked if Audi sees 300 miles (483 km) of range as being the gold standard like some competitors.

While Weissland noted 300 miles (483 km) of range is “good,” he said the ideal distance varies by segment. In particular, there are cost and weight benefits to using smaller and lighter battery packs in certain models, such as those focused on affordability.

Also Read: New Audi E-Tron Prototype Unveiled, Previews Upcoming Facelift

Audi officials also believe range will become less important in the future as charging infrastructure improves. This makes a lot of sense as there are well over 100,000 gas stations in the United States, but only around 6,000 DC fast charging stations. It’s also worth noting that charging technology continues to improve and this means we can expect shorter recharging times in the future.

Speaking of range, Audi said premium electric vehicle buyers only travel around 30 miles (48 km) per day. The company added that 98% of single-trip journeys are less than 50 miles (80 km), so EVs such as the Q4 e-tron should be more than suitable for the vast majority of drivers as it offers up to 265 miles (426 km) of range.

While Audi has explored hydrogen fuel cells in the past, officials said they don’t make much sense, at this point, due to their high price. It’s also worth mentioning that hydrogen refueling stations are virtually non-existent outside of California, and this is why models such as the Hyundai Nexo and Toyota Mirai are only available in the Golden State.

The company left the door open to hydrogen-powered models in the future, but Audi is focused on battery electric vehicles and is slated to have a fully electric lineup – outside of China – by 2033.

Picture credits: Michael Gauthier for CarScoops


The Auto World

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gearhead Nirvana: We Visit Porsche’s Atlanta Workshop Where Classics Get Reborn

Image
Maintaining any car is a duty that different owners approach in vastly different ways. For some, a few zip ties and a rattle can of spray paint is good enough. Far on the other end of the spectrum are owners like the ones who take their car to the Porsche Classic Center in Atlanta. During our trip there to see the new Macan EV in virtual reality , we had the opportunity to tour the Classic Center as it was deep in the midst of multiple repair and restoration projects.  To the owners of these cars and to the Porsche brand itself, what these mechanics, technicians, upholsterers, and painters are preserving is heritage. The center’s mantra “As good as new. But with even more character” is on display for anyone who visits the site. More: 2024 Porsche Macan EV Arrives From $79k, Turbo Is Faster Than A 911 GT3 Directly south of downtown Atlanta and appropriately located at 300 Porsche Ave, the Porsche Classic Center is now a separate building from the main Experience Center that o...
Read more

The New Honda Prelude Will Be A Global Model, But It Won’t Be A Toyota GR 86

Image
Last month, Honda rolled out the red carpet for the the hybrid Prelude Concept , heralding the comeback of a historic name in the motoring world. Now, this car has been given the green light as a global model, set to cater to both right- and left-hand drive markets. However, it might not quite rev up to be the full-throttle sports car many enthusiasts were anticipating Despite being labeled a concept by Honda, the car presented at the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) looked quite production-ready. And if we know anything about Honda, they have a knack for unveiling thinly-disguised production cars as concepts. Take the last two Civics, for example. The 10th-gen Civic Concept was more or less the Civic coupe of that generation with a more aggressive stance and altered bumpers, while the 11th-gen Civic Prototype was virtually the same sedan that made it to production. Read More: The Honda Prelude Is Coming Back As A Hybrid Sports Coupe advertisement scroll to continue Honda Pre...
Read more

As Good As New Porsche 918 Spyder With Just 43 Miles Could Fetch $2 Million

Image
This Porsche 918 has been kept in a climate-controlled storage facility ever since it was delivered. The car is one of just four Hong Kong-spec 918s in existence. Driving the hypercar is a 4.6-liter V8 hybrid powertrain with 887 hp. A 2015 Porsche 918 Spyder that has never been registered will be available at a Hong Kong auction running from April 2-5 and is expected to sell for between $1.5 million and $2 million. The 918 Spyder launched as one of the ‘hypercar holy trinity’ alongside the Ferrari LaFerrari and McLaren P1. While there are many low-mileage examples out there, few are thought to have been driven less than this one. Over the past decade, it has been driven less than 70 km (43 miles) and has been owned by a single person in Hong Kong. It has also never been registered for road use. The listing doesn’t specify how the car has racked up 70 km without being registered. Read: This Porsche 918 Is One Of Just 2 With A Gulf Oil Livery Nevertheless, this car i...
Read more