Premiere: Audi Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron!

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Recently updated on October 4, 2021 at 09:28 am

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The Audi Q4 e-tron and the Q4 Sportback e-tron cover a wide range of drives - from the urban cruiser to the powerful quattro. You are entering the European markets with two different battery sizes and three engines. With the Q4 35 e-tron² and the Q4 40 e-tron³ A permanently excited synchronous machine (PSM) on the rear axle takes over the drive - besides the high-performance sports car R8 V10 RWD, the two models are the only series-produced Audi with purely rear-wheel drive. The sporty top model Q4 50 e-tron four⁴ uses two electric motors for its electric four-wheel drive.

Entry-level model: the Q4 35 e-tron²

The entry-level models Audi Q4 35 e-tron² and Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron⁵ have the compact battery with 52 kWh net energy content (55 kWh gross) on board. It is powered by an electric motor with an output of 125 kW (170 hp) and 310 Newton meters of torque. It accelerates the electric SUV in both body variants in 9,0 seconds from zero to 100 km / h, the governed top speed is 160 km / h. The Q4 35 e-tron² The Q341 Sportback 4 can travel up to 35 kilometers on one charge (WLTP cycle) e-tron⁵ covers up to 349 kilometers (WLTP). The average energy consumption in the WLTP is 19,1 to 17,0 kWh per 100 kilometers (WLTP) for the Q4 35, depending on the equipment e-tron² and 18,6 to 16,6 kWh for the Q4 Sportback 35 e-tron⁵.

A range of up to 520 kilometers: the Q4 40 e-tron³

In the Audi Q4 40 e-tron³ the large battery is used, which holds 77 kWh of energy net (82 kWh gross). The electric motor delivers 150 kW (204 PS) and 310 Newton meters. The standard sprint takes 8,5 seconds, and here too the propulsion ends at 160 km / h. One battery charge is sufficient for up to 520 kilometers (WLTP). The Audi Q4 40 e-tron³ Consumes an average of 100 to 19,3 kWh per 17,3 kilometers according to WLTP.

Top model with two electric motors: the Q4 50 e-tron four⁴

The top models Q4 50 e-tron four⁴ and Q4 Sportback 50 e-tron four¹ also drive with the 77 kWh battery (gross 82 kWh). It supplies two electric machines, which together generate 220 kW (299 PS) (maximum power determined in accordance with UN-GTR.21.)⁴¹ Maximum power and 460 Newton meters of torque come and realize an electric all-wheel drive. The rear engine delivers 150 kW (204 PS) and 310 Newton meters, 80 kW (109 PS) and 162 Newton meters from the front. The e-machines have reserves for certain driving situations, so the sum of their individual powers exceeds the total power of the drive.

Both model variants sprint from standstill to country road speed in 6,2 seconds and up to a top speed of 180 km / h. Their range is up to 488 or 497 kilometers in the WLTP (Sportback). The average energy consumption in the WLTP is 4 for the Q50 e-tron four⁴ 19,9 to 17,9 kWh. With the Sportback¹, which is optionally available with decidedly sporty tires, it is 20,9 to 17,6 kWh.

High efficiency: synchronous machine on the rear axle

Whether rear-wheel or all-wheel drive - a permanently excited synchronous machine (PSM) works on the rear axle of all models. It lies axially parallel to the center of the wheel and sends its moment to a single-speed gearbox with a differential. The gear ratio of the rear-wheel drive models is 13: 1, and the electric all-wheel drive 11,5: 1.

Including the gearbox and the power electronics, which output the current values ​​every millisecond, the water-cooled electric motor only weighs around 90 kilograms. Its maximum speed is 16.000 rpm. Because it works quietly, it can hardly be heard outside of the car, which is why the statutory warning sound AVAS (Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System) sounds at low speed. To drive off, all the driver has to do is apply the brake and select D (Drive) or B (Brake) on the gear selector switch. As soon as he releases the brake, the car starts rolling at a slow pace.

One of the great strengths of the PSM motor is its efficiency - its efficiency is well over 90 percent in most driving situations. A high-tech solution is involved in production, the so-called hairpin winding: the coils of the stator consist of rectangular copper wires and look like hairpins after they have been bent. That makes it possible to pack the wires tighter and bring more copper into the stator. This increases power and torque.

Intelligent control: the electric all-wheel drive

With the electric all-wheel drive of the Q4 e-tron Top models⁴¹ An asynchronous machine (ASM) works on the front axle, which can rotate up to 14.000 rpm. It is mounted coaxially and has a combined cooling with coolant and oil. The main advantages of the ASM are their short-term overload capacity and the minimal drag losses when inactive - important because the front motor is not involved in the drive in most driving situations for reasons of efficiency. Its single-speed gearbox has a ratio of 1: 10,0, and the whole unit weighs around 1 kilograms.

In the electric all-wheel drive, both electric motors work together with maximum efficiency. With a moderate driving style, the PSM in the rear provides the drive alone for reasons of efficiency and traction. If the driver demands more power than it can provide, the front electric motor is switched on - within a few hundredths of a second. The same thing happens proactively on slippery roads or when cornering quickly, even before the car begins to understeer or oversteer. The wheel-selective torque control, a software function, rounds off the work of the electric all-wheel drive with finely dosed braking interventions on the relieved wheels on the inside of the curve.

With a low coefficient of friction, i.e. on very wet or snowy roads or on loose surfaces, the electric all-wheel drive shows its strengths particularly clearly: The high stability, sporty handling and secure grip give the Q4 e-tron four⁴ the decisive advantage. The electric quattro thus holds up after its debut in the Audi e-tron Entry into the compact class.

For maximum efficiency: sailing or recuperating?

When the Audi Q4 e-tron is in level D (Drive) and the driver releases the accelerator pedal, the drive switches to sailing mode. Both electric motors - or the rear one in the rear-wheel drive models - run freely and largely without current. Sailing is a priority because it is the most efficient. However, if the driver prefers recuperation, he has various options for this. In drive position B (brake), the drive almost always recuperates while overrun, but not until the car comes to a standstill. The limit is 0,15 g delay. If the "dynamic" mode is set in the optional Audi drive select dynamic handling system (standard on the Sportback), recuperation also takes place in gear position D, but somewhat less than in B.

With the steering wheel paddles (option), the driver can select three manual recuperation levels of different strength in level D - 0,06 g, 0,10 g and 0,15 g. He can also set automatic recuperation in the MMI system. If the car is approaching a zone that forces a slower speed, or if it runs into a slower vehicle in front, the drive management tries to reduce speed by sailing. If the distance is insufficient, it switches to thrust recuperation up to a maximum of 0,10 g. The prerequisite for automatic recuperation is that the predictive efficiency assistant is activated.

When braking, the PSM in the rear alone takes care of the deceleration in most everyday situations. The quattro models ** can brake electrically up to almost 0,3 g, which corresponds to up to 145 kW of recuperation power. Only then does the electric brake booster also activate the hydraulic wheel brakes. The transition is almost imperceptible, the recuperation remains active almost to a standstill. With the quattro models, recuperation is preferred on the rear axle, in a few situations also with the front electric motor.