Audi A-REV: sounds like Volt 2.0

It's more like a Volt 0.6:

The Volt outputs 111 kW (149 hp) and has a top speed of about 161 km/h (100 mph). The Volt total operating range on battery and a full tank of gas is about 783 km (486 miles). The Volt's all-electric battery range is 83 km (52 miles). The Volt consumes a mere combined weighted average of 1.2 l/100 km (196 US mpg) for a CO2 equivalent of just 27 g/km (43.4 g/mile).

Of course, these efficiency numbers for both the A1 e-tron and the Volt are European (NEDC) estimates which are very optimistic. EPA equivalent numbers are quite a bit lower. Think of these numbers as being like the "15 mile" PiP battery range. They are possible under favorable conditions and careful driving.

 

Sounds good but 81 mph top speed is not that much

 

I have more interest in this A1 over the Volt because of the ICE in the concept, a 253cc Wankel rotary. With that engine the E-tron maintained the passenger and cargo space of the ICE A1. Unfortunately, it may not make it into the production model, but those numbers are with the rotary.

The other numbers are excessive for most people's needs. There is an interstate by my parents where I can, not legally, get by doing over 80mph. With speed limits and traffic, I only get up to 60. Others might be doing 70 in the 55, but only nutjobs would be going faster. It's a second slower to 60 than a Volt. Which isn't much out on the streets. Handling is a much more useful performance area for the day to day than pure acceleration.

With my longer than average commute, I'd be stopping at a gas station once a week. Which is what I do now, and what I did with the Prius. If I was able to charge at work, I might not burn any, or very little, gas. In which case, the A1 is hauling around 36 less pounds than the Volt. The tank range may not work for all, but it does for at least 80% of the population.

Don't get me wrong, longer electric range would be nice. However, in addition to space and weight issues, the battery is the most expensive component for an EV or PHV. Final judgements on whether it's too little are going to have to wait on the final price.

Here's an older thread on it:
http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-hybrid-ev-alt-fuel-news/97507-audi-a1-e-tron.html

 

The A1 e-tron is about 1.5 feet shorter, has 2 doors plus hatchback, and has 4 seats. A T-shaped battery pack is located in the center and under the back seats as in the Volt.

The gas-only mileage works out to 39 mpg versus 47 mpg for the Volt on the same NEDC test cycle. The battery range per nominal kWh is low compared to a Volt. The Volt is 3.25 miles per nominal kWh capacity and the e-tron is 2.58 or 25% less which probably means they are using 50% of the pack (as the Volt was initially described) rather than the 65% used in the production Volt.

As far as I know, there is no announced pricing and this is just a prototype vehicle right now. The shorter size could be an advantage for some people or they could prefer the styling. Maybe the Wankel will have less vibration and noise than the Volt engine for those occasions when you need it.

 

Any chance GM is licensing some of the Volt patents to Audi?

 

Those numbers are from the concept vehicles with Wankel. It may also be a pure serial hybrid which would mean a hit in highway fuel economy. VW corporate may not want to spend the money to develop a production version of that engine. (I'd talk to Mazda, personally) Audi is introducing a series E-tron versions of their models. The A3 EV should be coming to the US. We don't even get the regular A1 here, so this PHV may be designed with just Europe, and maybe Japan, in mind. They do refer to it has a city car.

I want to see a rotary in a PHV. Economy and emissions can be a challenge with them, but for their size, no piston engine can match their power output. This engine is 0.253 liters in displacement. It could probably fit on a lawnmower. It gets worse mileage than the Volt, but when prices drop on batteries, the rotary genset is a smaller burden vehicle. It even makes a removable range extender easier to deploy.

 

It sounds like you're saying the PiP range of 15 ev miles is possible under favorable conditions ... but not stating that the Volt's 50 ev miles is only possible under favorable conditions ... I'm just saying .... if you're thinking Volt's 50 EV miles is an absolute, nothing could be farther from the truth:
Getting 25 Miles of Electric Range or Less in the Chevy Volt

.

 

That certainly wasn't my intent. Try reading my paragraph again:

"Of course, these efficiency numbers for both the A1 e-tron and the Volt are European (NEDC) estimates which are very optimistic. EPA equivalent numbers are quite a bit lower. Think of these numbers as being like the "15 mile" PiP battery range. They are possible under favorable conditions and careful driving."

My intent was to apply "favorable conditions and careful driving" to the NEDC estimates for the E-tron and Volt as well as the "15 mile" PiP battery range.

 

A Volt-like vehicle? so, Audi no longer believes that the Chevy Volt "a car for idiots,"

Audi of America president calls Chevy Volt "a car for idiots," slams electric vehicles