A new over-the-air update has been released by Audi that will allow some owners of the all-electric E-Tron to travel further on a full charge of the vehicle’s battery.
Audi says the software – which can be installed at its dealerships free of charge – should add up to 12 miles, taking 2019MY and 2020MY versions of the SUV’s total range to 274 miles – a gain of 5%.
As part of the changes, the “usable capacity” of the E-Tron’s 95kWH battery has grown to 86kWh for a slight gain in real-world performance.
The E-Tron is able to make smarter use of the battery’s reserves as the e-motor powering the front wheels can be turned off completely. It only supports the rear motor in cases where extra power, or grip on wet or slippery surfaces, is needed.
At the same time, the battery is more efficient thanks to changes to the cooling system. The basis for fast DC charging, long battery life, and consistent EV performance according to Audi, this has been made possible by lowering volume flow rates in the coolant circuit.
“This [up-date] means that Audi isn’t limiting efficiency increases to new models, but also boosting the efficiency of cars already on the road,” the brand said.
Since the end of 2018 – when production of the E-Tron began at the company’s Brussels plant – to the Spring of this year, Audi has sold over 100,000 units.
