Electric Cars: The Basics
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The All-Electric Audi Q4 e-tron SUV
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. The Audi all-electric e-tron portfolio includes:
- Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback
- Audi SQ8 e-tron SUV
- Audi Q8 e-tron SUV
- Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback
- Audi Q4 e-tron SUV
- Audi e-tron S Sportback
- Audi e-tron S SUV
- Audi e-tron GT
- Audi e-tron SUV
- Audi e-tron Sportback
- Audi RS e-tron GT
- Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback
The Audi Q4 e-tron electric compact crossover SUV is also based on the Volkswagen MEB bespoke EV platform (the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 uses the same platform). Production of the Q4 electric SUV commenced in March 2021 and the production Q4 e-tron version was unveiled in April 2021. However, the Q4 e-tron was first shown as a concept vehicle in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show. The Q4 e-tron is available in the SUV and Sportback body styles.
For those of you keen on a pure electric SUV, but with a premium badge and relatively ‘affordable’ price, the Audi Q4 e-SUV is worth considering. The Audi Q4 e-tron is the fourth pure electric vehicle from the German manufacturer. It is available in two EV battery sizes: 55 kWh and 82 kWh.
The 55 kWh EV battery has a claimed zero-emission electric range up to 335 km (WLTP), sufficient for most day-to-day driving needs. Do keep in mind that most daily commutes are short distances. The pure electric range is also sufficient for motorway driving. For those families and company-car drivers keen on more electric range, the 82 kWh EV battery offers a range up to 511 km on a full charge.
Of course, the real-world EV range will be impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving profile, weather conditions, road surface, tyre size, passenger load, onboard services used etc. Expect the 55 kWh EV battery to deliver an electric range closer to 290 km and the 82 kWh closer to 460 km.
The electric vehicle (EV) offers DC charging capability up to 125 kW, with 80% charge achieved in 36 minutes. The entry-level Q4 35 e-tron can be DC charged up to 100 kW and has a 7.2 kW onboard charger. The higher specification Q4 40 e-tron and Q4 50 e-tron offer DC charging up to 125 kW as standard and incorporates a 11 kW onboard charger. For single-phase home charging, expect a fully charged battery in 11 hours and 30 minutes. We at e-zoomed recommend charging an EV overnight, when the electricity tariff rates are cheaper.
The all-wheel drive capability is only available on the highest trim, the 50 e-tron, while the other two trims offer rear-wheel drive as standard. The Q4 50 e-tron achieves 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds and has a 180 km/h top speed (torque: 460 Nm). The Q4 40 e-tron achieves 0-100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and has a 160 km/h top speed. The entry-level Q4 35 e-tron achieves 0-100 km/h in 9 seconds and has a 160 km/h top speed.
The exterior of the Audi EV is attractive and the interior does not disappoint in terms of quality and layout. The standard equipment includes: Audi virtual cockpit; MMI navigation plus with a 11.6″ touchscreen, lane departure warning, cruise control with speed limiter, swerve assist and turn assist, Audi pre-sense front and more. In terms of practicality, the Audi Q4 has much to offer. There is ample headroom and legroom for all passengers. Given the placement of the EV battery on the floor, the boot space on offer is good (520 L).
Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Two EV battery sizes available | All-wheel drive not standard on all trim levels |
| DC charging up to 125 kW | 125 kW DC charging and 11 kW AC charging not standard on all variants |
| Attractive exterior styling and high quality interior specification and equipment | Expensive EV |
Gallery
The All-Electric Audi Q4 e-tron SUV (credit: Audi)
| At A Glance | |
|---|---|
| EV Type: | Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV) |
| Body Type: | SUV |
| Engine: | Electric |
| Available In Ireland: | Yes |
| Variants (3 Options) |
|---|
| Audi Q4 Advance (from € 48,805): 35 e-tron/40 e-tron |
| Audi Q4 Sport (from € 52,590): 35 e-tron/40 e-tron |
| Audi Q4 S line (from € 55,480): 35 e-tron/40 e-tron/50 e-tron |
| EV Battery & Emissions | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Type: | Lithium-ion |
| EV Battery Capacity: | Available in two battery sizes: 55 kWh/ 82 kWh |
| Charging: | Up to 125 kW DC charging (5%-80%: 36 mins). Onboard charger: 7.2 kW (0%-100%: 11 hrs 30 mins) and 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Charge Port: | Type 2 |
| EV Cable Type: | Type 2 |
| Tailpipe Emissions: | 0g (CO2/km) |
| Battery Warranty: | 8 years or 160,000 km |
| Average Cost Of Residential Charging | |
|---|---|
| Battery net capacity: 16.7 kWh | € 4.00 |
| Battery net capacity: 30.0 kWh | € 7.19 |
| Battery net capacity: 39.2 kWh | € 9.39 |
| Battery net capacity: 45.0 kWh | € 10.78 |
| Battery net capacity: 50.0 kWh | € 11.98 |
| Battery net capacity: 64.0 kWh | € 15.34 |
| Battery net capacity: 71.0 kWh | € 17.01 |
| Battery net capacity: 77.0 kWh | € 18.45 |
| Battery net capacity: 90.0 kWh | € 21.57 |
| Battery net capacity: 100.0 kWh | € 23.97 |
- 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) |
| Rapid charging DC (50 kW+): | 0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+): | 0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
| Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW): | 0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC) |
- Note 1: SoC: state of charge
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Height (mm): | 1632 |
| Width (mm): | 2108 |
| Length (mm): | 4599 |
| Wheelbase (mm): | 2764 |
| Turning Circle (m): | 11.5 |
| Boot Space (L): | 520 |
| Q4 35 e-tron | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 55 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 306 – 335 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 19.1 – 17.3 |
| Charging: | 100 kW DC charging. Onboard charger: 7.2 kW AC (0%-100%: 11 hrs 30 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 160 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 9.0 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 125 |
| Max Power (PS): | 170 |
| Torque (Nm): | 310 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | 1,890 |
| Colours: | 8 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| Q4 40 e-tron | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 82 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | 466 – 511 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 20.0 – 17.5 |
| Charging: | 125 kW DC charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 160 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h : | 8.5 seconds |
| Drive: | Rear-wheel drive (RWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 150 |
| Max Power (PS): | 204 |
| Torque (Nm): | 310 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | 2,050 |
| Colours: | 8 |
| NCAP Safety Rating: | Five-Star |
| Q4 50 e-tron | |
|---|---|
| EV Battery Capacity: | 82 kWh |
| Pure Electric Range (WLTP): | Up to 516 km |
| Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km): | 18.7 |
| Charging: | 125 kW DC charging. Onboard charger: 11 kW AC (0%-100%: 7 hrs 30 mins) |
| Top Speed: | 180 km/h |
| 0-100 km/h: | 6.2 seconds |
| Drive: | All-wheel drive (AWD) |
| Electric Motor (kW): | 220 |
| Max Power (PS): | 299 |
| Torque (Nm): | 460 |
| Transmission: | Automatic |
| Seats: | 5 |
| Doors: | 5 |
| Unladen Weight (kg): | 2,135 |
| Colours: | 8 |
| 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.
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