Audi EV

[dpeilow]

Paris Motor Show: Audi Crosslane Coupe Concept - NYTimes.com

Looking like a potential challenger to the Land Rover Evoque, the Crosslane is powered by an equally exotic mélange of technologies. The hybrid system combines a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine, rated at 130 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, with two electric motors. The larger of the electric units produces the equivalent of 116 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, and provides the only source of motive power up to 34 miles per hour. The smaller adds 68 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque and brings in an assist from the 3-cylinder engine at speeds up to 81 m.p.h. Above that, to its top speed at 113 m.p.h., the engine completely takes over.

For all those numbers, total system power averages out to a relatively lackluster 177 horsepower, Audi asserts. Still, the company says its Crosslane will sprint from a stop to 62 m.p.h. in a respectable 8.6 seconds.

The electric motor package uses a 17.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and has a range of around 53 miles in gas-free E.V. mode, Audi said.

 

[dpeilow]

Copied from Model S CHAdeMO adapter thread.

By the way, Audi R8 w/CHAdeMO:

Audi R8 e-tron Captures EV World Record with 8:09 Nurburgring Lap - WOT on Motor Trend

This is a very interesting find. I was told by an engineer on the electric VW Golf that they were considering CHAdeMO, but that is the first time I have seen one on a VAG car.

 

[doug]

Check how they just slapped in an iPad in the center stack. I suppose that cuts down on the dev costs.

First video of the Audi R8 e-tron - YouTube

 

[TEG]

This is a very interesting find. I was told by an engineer on the electric VW Golf that they were considering CHAdeMO, but that is the first time I have seen one on a VAG car.

Note, the only currently free to use SF peninsula CHAdeMO right now is at VW research center.
You have to wonder why they would agree to host a CHAdeMO there... Gathering some data, I think.
(I wonder if they are paying the power bill for its' use.)
Anways, thanks VW !

 

[vfx]

That shot of the open hood look exactly like the open hood I remember from NPID where VW had brought a car.

 

[danny]

Despite my dislike for all things apple, I must say that I see no reason why they would need to develop their own touch screen when the ipad or an android tablet with appropriate custom apps can handle everything just as well, if not better.
I can't imagine the model S touchscreen having as good touch response as an ipad/android.

When I asked someone at tesla about why they weren't just building their touch controls on top of android, they said that it was for security reasons and that they want a completely closed system for which they have full control, or something like that.

 

[vfx]

...
I can't imagine the model S touchscreen having as good touch response as an ipad/android.
....

David, you have not touched a Model S?

Shocked!

 

[dpeilow]

David, you have not touched a Model S?

Shocked!

I have, dunno about Danny though.

 

[vfx]

Not you David. The other David.

 

[TEG]

...I can't imagine the model S touchscreen having as good touch response as an ipad/android...

I had an opportunity to "bash" on the Model S UI for a few minutes, and tried just "going spastic" on it, pressing buttons at random with multiple fingers as fast as I could in an attempt to see if I could "crash it" or otherwise cause it to get messed up. End result: it held up very well. It was opening and closing random sub-menus with amazing speed, and didn't get into any error conditions even though I was using it like no normal user would be expected to operate. ("negative use case testing...")

- - - Updated - - -

Not you David. The other David.

Then you probably mean Danny...

Although there is a well known David Sacks with remote ties to Tesla, but I don't think you were meaning him...

 

[dpeilow]

Audi R8 e-Tron All-Electric Supercar On Hold: Report

 

[vfx]

Audi R8 e-Tron ... On Hold:...

They drove a Model S.

 

[Robert.Boston]

I don't get this "limited edition" remark:

With Tesla now ramping up production of its 2012 Model S electric sport sedan, a limited-production electric supercar somehow feels ... very 2008.

 

[TEG]

The article was about the e-Tron not the Model S. So I took the "limited edition" to mean the Audi, not the Tesla.
(Out of context your quote could easily be interpreted otherwise.)

 

[JRP3]

Agree with TEG.

 

[VolkerP]

Audi EV R&D project yields experimental fully electric R8. They use "consumer cells" for the battery and still fail to excel the 2008 Roadster. Sigh.

Article in German:
Modulbauweise für Elektrofahrzeuge | heise Autos

my translation:

Audi's R&D project "e performance" develops a flexible construction kit for EVs

Modular Architecture for EVs

Ingolstadt, Oct 18, 2012 - after three years, Audi completed the R&D project "e performance". The project was initiated at Oct 1, 2009, and targeted a resizeable system architecture for cars with electric propulsion, including sports cars, sedans, and city cars. The objective was a flexible construction kit that included a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Audi developed the elements toghether with Bosch and several faculties of RWTH Aachen University. The construction kit can be deployed in different EVs.

EV in modular architecture

"e performance" was divided into single tasks, e.g. energy storage, concepts for user interfaces, and drive dynamics control. A driveable prototype served as validation platform, called F12. That is neither a reference to the legendary DKW F12, a car in Audi's heritage featuring 3 cylinder two-stroke ICE, nor does it relate to the latest Uber-Ferrari with 12 cylinders. The sports car has purely electric propulsion and looks like a standard production R8. Besides the body, it has nothing in common with the e-tron, which will see the street later this year. The F12 represents the "e Sport" flavor of the construction kit. The research vehicle weighs 1650kg and has a sporty drive. Acceleration 0-100kph is less than 7 seconds. Top speed is governed to max out at 180kph, range is approx. 200km.

Three drive motors

In the F12 drivetrain, three motors of different make work together. At low speeds, only the front achsle synchronous motor is engaged. At higher speeds the power-tweaked asynchronous motors engines cut in, that are mounted at the rear axle. Overall output is 150kW and 550Nm of torque. The F12 features a switchable high voltage circuit. Two batteries deliver different voltages at 144V resp. 216V. A DC/DC converter supplies the required uniform voltage. At low power, an efficient voltage of 200V is used, rising up to 440V with increasing power demand.

traction battery as crash box

Another focal point of the project was the high voltage battery. The F12 features two separate blocks at 38kWh, consisting of 200 macro cells. The liquid cooled packs weigh 400kg. The macro cells contain cylindrical Li-ion cells, like the ones found in consumer electronics. Total cell number is 5200. The macro cells have a slanted shape that allows them to shift in relation to each other. This helps with improving crash safety. Extruded Aluminum profiles absorb a part of the impact's energy. According to numerical simulation and module-level tests, this architecture withstands a pole side impact scenario. Next, the F12 features a thermal management for drivetrain and cabin. A heat pump controls pack temperature, according to situation, and uses the pack's thermal mass to store residual heat. This saves energy, when cabin heating is requested at begin of the next trip.

The user interface is advanced. The F12 driver controls parking, reverse, neutral and drive with pushbuttons on the center console. All other user action is entered via a tablet computer, which is docked to the center stack but can be undocked. A fully programmable combined central display shows all important information in high resolution.

many involved parties

The F12 was created within a R&D project of the federal department of education and science. The project was budgeted at 36m Euros. Engineers from Audi, Audi daughter Audi Electronics Venture GmbH (AEV) and scientists from IKA, ISEA, and IEM of the RWTH Aachen formed the core team. Other specialists from TU Munich, Dresden, and Ilmenau, from Leibniz University Hannover, and Fraunhofer instituts IISB and IESE gave scientific support to the team. Industrial partners were Robert Bosch GmbH and Bosch Engineering GmbH.

Partnerships will continue beyond completion of the F12. First follow-on projects are on the way already, focusing on selected technical topics. Some solutions, like the CFK housing of the traction battery, may enter production in the time to come.

(fpi)

 

[Mycroft]

People who say that Tesla is doomed "when the big boys get in", simply don't know what they're talking about. This stuff is not easy. You just can't throw money at it and develop an amazing magical drive train.

 

[brianman]

People who say that Tesla is doomed "when the big boys get in", simply don't know what they're talking about. This stuff is not easy. You just can't throw money at it and develop an amazing magical drive train.

No that's the hyperloop...

Hehe.

 

[smorgasbord]

Audi R8 e-Tron All-Electric Supercar On Hold: Report

Apparently, it's now Off Hold: http://fourtitude.com/features/Miscellaneous_Features_16/all-the-latest-on-the-facelifted-audi-r8-e-tron/

As of now, this latest R8 e-tron remains a technology platform and exhibit for Audi only. It is possible that the R8 e-tron could see very limited series production, though its assured status seems to no longer be the case. Just what model will mark Audi’s first full e-tron production car remains to be seen, though this R8 e-tron prototype certainly suggests that any ‘ur e-tron’ will be one very impressive piece of kit.

 

[dpeilow]

Read earlier that Audi have killed off the electric A2 revival...

Audi A2 axed | Autocar