The Audi e-tron concept electric car

October 2, 2009 by Lin Edwards

Enlarge

The Audi e-tron concept car

(PhysOrg.com) -- Audi has unveiled its new electric car concept, the Audi e-tron at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show in Germany.

The all electric car is basically a modified Audi R8 sports car, but slightly smaller in all dimensions. The car delivers a massive 4500 Nm (3,319 lb-ft) of torque and 233 kW (313 horsepower), and the car can go from 0 to 100 kph (0-60 mph) in 4.8 seconds. The power comes from four electric motors: one for each wheel.

According to Audi the car can travel around 250 km (154 miles) on a full battery charge. The lithium-ion battery provides an energy content of 42.4 kilowatt hours. The top speed is limited to 200 kph (124 mph) to avoid flattening the battery too quickly.

The car is light, being constructed of aluminum and carbon fiber, and fiber-reinforced plastics on the doors, body panels and roof. The styling is modified to accommodate the cooling needs of its Sanyo lithium-ion battery, and there are moveable flaps that open to help cool the battery when the car is traveling at slow speeds.

Enlarge

Other ideas incorporated in the two-seater concept car are cameras instead of rear-view mirrors, and an adjustable array of LEDs in place of headlamps. Since the car is electric, gears are replaced by a simple forward, reverse and neutral selection. Many of the controls are touch panels rather than buttons or switches.

The Audi e-tron is still at the concept stage, but a few prototypes are expected to be released in 2010, with a small run to be manufactured in 2012 and made available in the U.S., essentially for research purposes. More widespread manufacture of the car is not expected for some years.

Enlarge

The Audi e-tron concept electric car.

Enlarge

© 2009 PhysOrg.com

• ScottyB - Oct 02, 2009
  • Rank: 3 / 5 (1)
  Awesome! Really stylish car and looks liek it has some potential! Althought i coudlnt see how long it takes to charge up and what kind of connection you woudl need to charge it..
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• cyclic250 - Oct 02, 2009
  • Rank: 4 / 5 (1)
  i like the idea of the cameras for rear view mirrior, i am imagining that night vision will be an improvement over a conventional mirror.
  
  if they have a little button on the left and right of the steering wheel they could switch between left and right mirrors and the rear view mirror functionality
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• holoman - Oct 02, 2009
  • Rank: 4 / 5 (1)
  Nice looking car, too bad about the use of batteries.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• Nartoon - Oct 03, 2009
  • Rank: not rated yet
  And when powered from a conventional electric source this thing will have a CO2 footprint bigger than a Hummer.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
• weirmeir - Nov 08, 2009
  • Rank: not rated yet
  Copy the carbon footprint comment. But carbon footprint is a scam with lots of takers.
  • report abuse
  • • Current rank
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5