Audi has released more details about the electric drive in its new A2 e-tron compact. The company calls the car its most efficient model ever. It says the gains come from work on the power electronics, electric motor and transmission, alongside aerodynamics and battery technology. Preliminary WLTP figures put combined consumption at 15.6–12.8 kWh/100 km for the 140 kW version.
Audi has turned its attention to the hardware under the skin of the new A2 e-tron. In a technical briefing issued from Ingolstadt, the manufacturer describes the drive system of its new electric compact as a key reason for what it calls the car’s class-leading efficiency within the brand’s own range.
A drivetrain refined at three points
According to Audi, no single change is responsible for the A2 e-tron’s efficiency. Instead, the company points to several development measures working together. It names aerodynamics and battery technology as major contributors, and says the further developed drive technology plays a decisive role.
On the drive side, Audi highlights improvements in three areas:
- Power electronics – the unit that controls the flow of energy between battery and motor
- Electric motor – the motor itself, which Audi says has been further developed
- Transmission – the gearing that delivers drive to the wheels
The manufacturer says these changes complement one another rather than acting alone. The release does not give detailed specifications for the individual components.
Consumption, range and refinement
Audi says buyers should see three practical benefits: low energy consumption, long range and pleasant acoustics. For the A2 e-tron with 140 kW, the company quotes preliminary combined WLTP power consumption of 15.6–12.8 kWh/100 km. Combined CO₂ emissions are 0 g/km, and the car is placed in CO₂ class A.
As the figures are preliminary, they may still change before final homologation. Audi has not yet published a range figure or a battery capacity in this release.
What it means
The A2 name has a history of efficiency. It was last used on Audi’s aluminium-bodied compact of the early 2000s, a car designed around low consumption. By bringing the badge back for an electric compact and leading with efficiency, Audi is signalling that the new model will compete on running costs and range per kWh as much as on performance. That counts for a lot in the busy compact EV segment.
Full technical data, pricing and launch timing for the Audi A2 e-tron have yet to be confirmed in this release.
Facts: Audi A2 e-tron
- Power: 140 kW
- Combined power consumption (WLTP, preliminary): 15.6–12.8 kWh/100 km
- Combined CO₂ emissions: 0 g/km
- CO₂ class: A
- Drive developments: power electronics, electric motor, transmission
Source: www.audi.com