Audi testing the electric car market

Rybold · Mar 26, 2012

Audi testing the electric car market.

(Credit: Audi) To ready its upcoming fleet of plug-in and electric vehicles for the U.S. market, Audi announced, the company will begin testing a small fleet of electric A3 hatchbacks in different regions throughout the country.

The Audi A3 E-tron has 199 lb-ft torque, a battery range of approximately 90 miles, and a top speed of 90 mph. It looks nearly identical to its conventional gasoline-powered A3 counterpart, but under the hood you'll find an electric motor instead of a 2-liter gasoline or diesel engine. Powering the vehicle is a 26kWh lithium ion battery housed underneath the car, which means the battery pack won't occupy any of the five-seater's cargo space.

Audi A3 E-tron (photos) 1-2 of 8.

Field testing will be held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and Washington, D.C., and will run for about 18 months. But don't get too excited about the prospects of a luxury compact EV--the A3 E-trons will be driven mostly by Audi technicians and engineers, who will provide feedback on vehicle performance to engineering headquarters in Germany.

The data generated will help refine the line of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles that the car maker intends to produce in the near future. Audi is rumored to be planning to produce a plug-in version of the A4 sedan for the U.S. market in 2014.
Click to expand...

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_...ic-car-market/?tag=contentMain;contentBody;3n

As part of the trial program, A3 e-trons will only be available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Washington, D.C. The program will last one year and will essentially make customers into test drivers. ....Audi sustainability strategy lead Jeff Curry
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http://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/audi-launches-a3-e-tron-trial-program-in-u-s-cities/

Audi testing the electric car market

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Audi testing the electric car market

Rybold globally warmed member