Audi Announces a Less Expensive, Shorter Range Electric e-tron SUV

author: Manish Kharinta   

The fully-electric Audi e-tron 50 sport utility vehicle will make its debut in the UK by 2020.

Luxury carmaker Audi announced that another variant will soon join the e-tron lineup and will make its debut in the UK by 2020. The new car dubbed the Audi e-tron 50 Quattro will be positioned under the company's e-tron 55 Quattro model as the automaker's entry-level electric variant.

The all-new e-tron 50 Quattro will be manufactured at Audi's carbon-neutral Brussels plant. The 50 Quattro comes with 120 KW charging capability which allows the car's battery pack to recharge up to 80% in around 30 minutes using a fast-charging station.

The electric SUV comes with a 71 kWh battery, which powers a dual-motor setup, offering a driving range of 186 miles according to the WLTP standards. Power is delivered using one electric motor for each axle, which equips the EV with Audi's e-Quattro all-wheel-drive system. 

The powertrain produces around 308 horsepower or 230 KW of combined power output and 398 lb-ft (540 NM) of peak torque. This allows the 50 Quattro to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under five seconds. The EV's top speed is electronically limited to 118 mph.

Audi claims that as a result of the e-tron's low center of gravity, air suspension, as well as a intuitive electric all-wheel drive regulator, the electric vehicle will be able to offer unparalleled stability and handling characteristics. 

The low center of gravity also decreases the car's resistance and along with the e-tron 50's advanced thermal management system, it also enhances the overall efficiency of the EV. 

Audi e-Tron 50 comes with a compact charging system as standard, which means that the car can be recharged using a domestic wall outlet when not using a 120 kW fast-charging station. 

Audi's entry-level electric SUV is capable of supporting charging capacity of up to 2.3 KW while using a 230-volt outlet. The 71 KW of energy is stored in the e-tron 50's battery pack which is comprised of 324 prismatic cells encased in 27 battery modules.

Audi will also be introducing an optional connect charging system for the e-tron 50, which comes with smart charging functions later this year. This feature will inform customers about inexpensive time slots when they can recharge their e-tron at a lower cost, depending on variable electricity rate at that time. 

Like its more powerful sibling, e-tron 50 Quattro will come standard with Audi's innovative electronic regenerating braking, which can add 1 mile of range for every mile traveled downhill.

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.