4 September 2015
Audi’s first plug-in electric hybrid vehicle (PHEV) zaps into the market
There was something intriguing about being greeted with silence when pushing the start button. And no, the battery wasn’t flat!
My first drive felt as if I was silently stalking the cars around me - sneaking up on them at the lights, only to leave them shocked as I rolled away and all without a whisper from the petrol engine. Thankfully the A3 has bright LED running lights to alert passing pedestrians of your arrival.
Whether you’re driving long distance or to the shops, the A3 e-tron ensures a frugal fuel consumption of 1.6l/100km and a driving range of over 900kms, with up to 50kms between charges being achieved electrically.
Here comes the science bit…
Powered by a 75kW/330Nm electric engine and Audi’s modified 110kW/250Nm, 1.4 TFSI petrol power plant, this vehicle has a combined output of 150kW/350Nm and you can be transported from a standstill to 100km/h in just 7.6 seconds. The A3 e-tron also adopts the latest battery technology, employing the Lithium-ion which has an average charge time of just 2 hours and 15 minutes if you use your standard 15A spa or oven type power socket. This increases to 3 hours 45 minutes if you use a standard 10A household power socket. .
As a hybrid, the change-over between electric and petrol is seamless. Not intrusive at all, as the same electric motor that is used to propel the car is also the one which starts the engine. So the car initially drives away electrically before engaging with the engine, firing into life and you’re on your way. Quite like tow starting your car.
Lively and nimble
The A3 e-tron offers 4 driving modes; EV, Hybrid Charge, Hold and Auto. Regardless of the setting chosen, the vehicle is lively and nimble. The 300kg liquid-cooled battery pack is mounted low and rearward, firmly anchoring the compact hatchback to the road, and resulting in impressive handling.
The driver can also use the Audi Drive Select technology to configure the character of the car according to ‘comfort’, ‘auto’, ‘dynamic’, and ‘individual’ modes. The system, which comes as standard, also controls the optional components, adaptive cruise and adaptive lights.
50 shades of grey
The interior is dark. The seats match the door trims, match the consoles, match the dash. Audi describe it as “clean, elegant, and sporty” and I agree, but a touch of colour would be nice. When the sun went down though, all was revealed. The red interior illumination, along with a central display screen that slides seamlessly inside the dash when not required, added the extra touch I had been searching for. The body of the car almost hides the fact that a hybrid lurks within, with nice precise A3 styling throughout. The boot is not huge but fold the seats down, and you gain the extra space as needed.
Audi is looking to expand its e-tron family with the introduction of additional models that will meet both the needs of its customers and achieve its sustainability goals. The A3 e-tron is a strong indicator of what’s to come, ticking all the boxes when it comes to offering economic and environmental benefits, sleek design and innovative driving technology.