Electric Cars: The Basics
For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:
Different Type Of Electric Vehicles (EVs): An Introduction
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
Electric Cars: Benefits Of Electric Driving: Top 5
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
What Is Regenerative Braking: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
Benefits Of Green Energy: A Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
EV Charging Cables: A Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read MoreSign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter
The Audi A6 Avant TFSIe PHEV Estate
Audi AG, a Bavaria (Germany) based luxury automotive manufacturer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the Germany automotive group. Volkswagen AG is one of the leading automotive companies in the global electric vehicle (EV) industry. Volkswagen has committed to an investment up to Euro 30 billion by 2023. It aims to sell 3 million electric vehicles by 2025 and launch up to 70 new EV models over the next 10 years.
With the launch of its electric vehicle ID. Family, VW is fast cementing a dominant position is to become the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer by 2028, with the automotive behemoth planning to manufacturer 22 million electric vehicles. Audi also offers plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), to include:
- A3 Sportback TFSIe
- A6 TFSIe
- A6 Avant TFSIe
- A7 Sportback TFSIe
- A8 TFSIe
- A8 L TFSIe
- Q3 TFSIe
- Q3 Sportback TFSIe
- Q5 TFSIe
- Q5 Sportback TFSIe
- Q7 TFSIe
- Q8 TFSIe
The Audi A6 premium car has been on sale since 1994. The A6 is currently in its fifth generation. The A6 is available as a saloon and an estate body type. The A6 is also available as plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The A6 Avant estate incorporates Audi’s quattro technology.
The A6 Avant TFSIe estate PHEV is one of the very few premium-badge plug-in hybrid estate cars available in the market. Though a compelling proposition for a company car driver, the A6 premium estate plug-in hybrid is just as compelling for private users, given the increased practicality of an estate car.
The electric vehicle (EV) has an above average EV battery size for a PHEV (17.9 kWh), with a claimed electric range up to 65 km (WLTP). Even adjusting for driving style, speed, weather conditions, passenger load, regenerative braking profile, the Audi A6 EV should be able to deliver well over 58 km on a fully charged battery. That is certainly sufficient for most daily commutes and shorter motorway driving.
Do keep in mind that driving in e-mode is not only smoother and more enjoyable, than driving a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) equivalent, but it is also far cheaper per mile to drive an EV. Depending on the cost to charge the EV, driving per km on electric mode will be as low as 5 cents to 10 cents, considerably lower than driving a conventional petrol or diesel vehicle.
Both the Audi 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic and the Audi 55 TFSIe quattro S tronic, combine an internal combustion engine (ICE) with an electric motor, to deliver greater vehicle efficiency. Audi claims a fuel economy up to 1.5 l/100 km.
Of course, to achieve higher levels of real-world fuel economy, the all-wheel drive A6 PHEV has to be driven on the pure electric mode as much as possible. Expect real-world fuel economy to be much lower than the claimed figures, if the majority of the driving is on motorways at high speed!
It is important that the EV is charged on a regular basis, so that the financial savings from driving on e-mode can be leveraged to its maximum. Buying a PHEV without the intent to use the e-mode to its maximum potential is simply incomprehensible!
The Audi A6 plug-in electric estate incorporates a 7.2 kW onboard charger, perfect for charging at home in the Ireland, given that most homes are powered by single-phase power supply. Using a dedicated EV charger like Easee, the EV battery can fully charged in around two hours.
However, best not to deplete the EV battery to empty. Always, adopt a ‘topping up’ approach to EV charging. It benefits fuel economy and moreover also benefits the long-term health of the EV battery (Audi offers a 8 years or 160,000 km EV battery warranty). Of course, by topping up on a regular basis, there is less time required to wait for recharging the EV between charges.
The 50 TFSIe combines a 2.0-litre petrol engine with an electric motor powered by the onboard EV battery. Despite the additional weight of the EV battery, the electric car has reasonably good performance: 0-100 km/h in 6.3 seconds (maximum output 299 PS and 370 Nm torque). The top speed is 250 km/h. The 55 TFSIe is a little quicker and achieves 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. And as is the case with EVs, the Audi A6 plug-in also benefits from instant torque.
As with most premium-badge cars like Audi, high quality interiors come as standard, and the Audi A6 PHEV does not disappoint. The electric vehicle is also technology-laden, to include: Audi virtual cockpit, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch, Audi smartphone Interface and more.
The EV also includes a host of assistance systems, to include: city assist pack, park assist, Audi pre sense rear, head-up display, camera-based traffic sign recognition, lane departure warning inc emergency assist, passenger presence detection and more.
In terms of exterior styling, for those keen to migrate to electric driving, but in an EV that feels familiar in design, the Audi EV exterior styling is well suited. It is attractive without screaming it is futuristic. In terms of practicality, there is ample headroom and legroom for front and rear seat passengers and the drive is refined. The only limitation is the reduced boot size due to the placement of the onboard EV battery. A6 estate PHEV offers 405 L in cargo volume.
The PHEV tailpipe emissions are low (36 g CO2/km), compared to a conventional petrol or diesel variant. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and for the wallet!
Gallery
The Audi A6 TFSIe Avant PHEV Estate (credit: Audi)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) |
| Body Type: | Estate |
| Engine: | Petrol-Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| Audi A6 SE (from € 70,995): 50 TFSI e quattro S-tronic |
| Audi A6 S line (from € 74,535): 50 TFSI e quattro S-tronic |
| Audi A6 Competition (from € 76,380): 55 TFSI e quattro S-tronic |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in one battery size: 17.9 kWh |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.2 kW AC |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 36 – 29 g (CO2/km) |
| Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity : 8.8 kWh | € 2.10 |
| Battery net capacity : 11.6 kWh | € 2.78 |
| Battery net capacity : 12.0 kWh | € 2.87 |
| Battery net capacity : 13.10 kWh | € 3.14 |
| Battery net capacity : 14.10 kWh | € 3.37 |
- Note 1: The average cost of residential electricity in Ireland varies depending on the region, supplier and type of energy used. An average for Ireland is 23.97 cents/kWh.
- Note 2: Not all EV manufactures make available the data on net EV battery capacity, and in a number of instances the EV battery capacity advertised, does not state if it is gross or net capacity. In general, usable EV battery capacity is between 85% to 95% of the gross available capacity.
| Charging Times (Overview) | |
|---|---|
| Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW): | 6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC) |
| Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW): | 3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Rapid charging AC (43 kW): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1465 |
| Width (mm): | 1886 |
| Length (mm): | 4951 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2924 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 12.1 |
| Boot capacity (L): | 405 |
| 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 17.9 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 65 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 18.9 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km): | 1.5 – 1.2 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.2 kW AC |
| Top Speed: | 250 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.3 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | N/A |
| Max Power (PS): | 299 |
| Torque (Nm): | 370 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | 2,075 |
| Colours: | 9 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| 55 TFSIe quattro S tronic | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 17.9 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 65 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 19.6 |
| Fuel Consumption (l/100 km):): | 1.5 – 1.3 |
| Charging: | DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.2 kW AC |
| Top Speed: | 250 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 5.7 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | N/A |
| Max Power (PS): | 367 |
| Torque (Nm): | 500 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | 2,075 |
| Colours: | 9 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
Air Quality: An Overview
If there is one common theme that unites many of us, it is the concern over worsening air quality in our villages, towns and cities. This concern is not unique to Ireland, but a narrative that is now firmly centre stage globally. The detrimental health consequences of higher pollution, in particular, on the vulnerable, like children and the elderly is significant, and well documented.
According to the WHO (World Health Organisation), the PM2.5 concentration in Ireland is currently 1.6 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value. WHO has described air pollution as the ‘single biggest environmental health risk’, leading to an increase in the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases.
Electric vehicles and in particular, zero-tailpipe emission EVs, also known as battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), help improve local air quality i.e. a pure electric car does not have a tailpipe/ exhaust, hence, zero-tailpipe emissions! Without an iota of doubt, all types of EVs, to include, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are better for improving air quality, compared to conventional petrol and diesel vehicles. We encourage all drivers in Ireland to migrate to lower emission electric driving.
| Type Of Pollutants |
|---|
| Particulate matter (PM or PM 2.5) |
| Ammonia (NH3) |
| Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) |
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
| Non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCS) |
| Primary Sources Of Pollutants |
|---|
| Road transportation |
| Industrial processes |
| Farming and agricultural processes |
| Waste industry |
| Energy generation |
| Domestic burning |
| Other forms of transportation, such as aviation, shipping and railroads |
While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.
Featured Articles
The All-Electric Audi e-tron Sportback: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
The All-Electric Audi RS e-tron GT Saloon: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
The All-Electric Audi Q4 e-tron SUV: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
The All-Electric Audi e-tron GT Saloon: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
The All-Electric Audi e-tron S Sportback: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read More
The All-Electric Audi e-tron SUV: The Complete Guide For Ireland
Electric Cars: The Basics For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles: Sign up to the e-zoomed Electric Living newsletter…
Read MoreFeatured Products
-
Best-In-Class Home Solar Bundle Offer (440W Trina Solar 8 Panels + Sungrow Hybrid Inverter 3.0 kW): price includes product supply only – free delivery
Original price was: €3,155.95.€3,075.95Current price is: €3,075.95. (Including VAT)Brand:SungrowTrinaSolarCategory:Solar -
Best-In-Class Home Solar Bundle Offer (440W Trina Solar 8 Panels + Sungrow Battery Storage 6.4 kWh + Sungrow Hybrid Inverter 3.0 kW): price includes product supply only – free delivery
Original price was: €6,115.95.€5,999.95Current price is: €5,999.95. (Including VAT)Brand:SungrowTrinaSolarCategory:Solar -
Bundle Offer: Sungrow Home Battery Storage (6.4 kWh) + Sungrow Hybrid Inverter (5 KW/ Single-Phase): price includes product only – Free delivery
Original price was: €4,549.95.€4,050.95Current price is: €4,050.95. (Including VAT)Brand:SungrowCategory:Battery Storage -
Untethered Ohme Home EV Charger (7kW): price includes product only – free delivery
Original price was: €780.95.€685.95Current price is: €685.95. (Including VAT)Brand:OhmeCategory:EV Charging PointsCable:Untethered -
Custom-Made 1-Phase EV Charging Cable Type 2 to Type 2 (2m to 45m, 7.4 kW) – Made In Europe – Free Delivery
€219.95 – €645.95 (Including VAT)Category:EV Charging CablesType:Type 2Length (m):5 m10 m6 m15 m20 m2 m25 m30 m35 m40 m45 m3 m7 m8 m12 m18 m22 mCurrent (amp):32 ampPhase:Single Phase (7.4kW)This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
