Audi e-tron Sportback range, battery & charging
The Audi e-tron doesn’t have the longest pure-electric range in its class, but its ability to rapid charge at 150kW makes it an easy car to live with
| Battery | Range | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| e-tron 50 | 185 miles | 10hrs 30mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 29mins (10-80%, 140kW) |
| e-tron 55 | 241 miles | 13hrs 45mins (0-100%, 7.4kW) | 38mins (10-80%, 140kW) |
You’re unlikely to get near the e-tron’s claimed range numbers, apart from in near-perfect conditions. On the motorway, the e-tron Sportback hunkers down automatically to improve aerodynamics – but there’s no avoiding the fact that at around 2,500kg, it’s a heavy car. We’d wager 200 miles on a charge is more realistic from the 55 quattro model in normal driving – perhaps slightly more if you spend most of your time in stop-start traffic.
Audi e-tron Sportback range
Audi claims its e-tron 55 Sportback will do 241 miles on a single charge – providing you avoid the very biggest 22-inch wheels fitted to the flagship Vorsprung version. These models suffer slightly, with predicted range dropping slightly to just 237 miles.
However, in all likelihood, you can expect a figure closer to 200 miles in normal driving – or perhaps 220 miles if you make the most of the e-tron’s clever regenerative braking system. Still, that shouldn’t be an issue for most drivers, especially if you plan to utilise the car’s reliable rapid-charge capabilities.
Charge time
As the e-tron 55 and e-tron S models have the same 95kWh battery and identical charging speed, their top-up times are indistinguishable: nearly 14 hours to 100% from a 7.4kW power source, or just under nine hours if you’ve access to an 11kW three-phase wallbox. Its maximum charging speed is 150kW, allowing for an 80% top-up in just under half an hour at a public rapid charge point.
Audi says every e-tron has 22 litres of coolant, flowing through 40 metres of cooling lines across four coolant circuits. This, the maker claims, makes its charging system more efficient, allowing the car to maintain higher charging speeds than its main competitors. It works, too: we saw the e-tron hold its 150kW maximum from 45-80% when hooked up to one of BP Pulse's rapid charge points, allowing us to comfortably achieve Audi’s claims of an 80% charge in 30 minutes.
