Audi was daring enough to market the e-tron as a rival of Tesla’s Model X—the leading all-electric SUV. Despite its appealing features, most buyers couldn’t get past the low range. So why does the e-tron have a low range despite being equipped with a larger battery?
The Audi e-tron’s range is lower than that of its competitors because it is enhanced with durability features such as an advanced thermal management system and battery use that’s capped at 88% of its capacity. Its aerodynamics and faster-charging current also play a role in reducing driving range.
This article aims to cover the different reasons Audi has provided for the lower range their vehicle offers.I’ll also throw in some of my own analysis based on research. Let’s get started.
Reasons Audi Has Given for the E-Tron’s Lower Range
So much buzz was generated by buyers about the e-tron’s low driving range that Audi took to Twitter to defend their big battery-low range car. Apparently, the manufacturer made the decision to sacrifice range for other features. Here are some of the reasons why the e-tron’s range is considerably low:
Its Battery Is Made for Durability
The e-tron’s battery only ever uses up to 88% of its capacity—a feature that supposedly preserves battery life in the long run. Audi claims that this was meant to increase the battery’s overall durability. EVs are powered by lithium-ion batteries, just like smartphones. Experts agree that running fewer full battery cycles preserves battery life to some extent.
It Has an Aggressive Cooling System
Another feature that uses up a lot of battery (and thus reduces range) is the e-tron’s highly efficient cooling system. Audi went the extra mile and built a cooling system that monitors individual battery modules instead of cooling the entire battery.
While the battery is kept at optimal temperatures, more energy is required to run the cooling system, and it also adds weight. Overall, the cooling system reduces range. Here’s a video from SlashGear demonstrating how the e-tron’s 95kWh battery is cooled:
Other Factors That May Reduce the E-Tron’s Range
I’m willing to bet there are more factors than the ones listed above at play here. Audi’s response to the issue of reduced range is focused on the biggest contributing factors, but here are two other aspects I think are also worth mentioning:
Aerodynamics of a Large Car Reduce Its Range
Smaller cars are more aerodynamic and consume fuel more efficiently. Because we’re dealing with an electric vehicle, battery range is the equivalent of fuel efficiency—but the idea is the same.
The Tesla Model X is a large car, but Audi went above and beyond in making sure their first electric SUV had a spacious interior. The added dimensions (and weight) have got to contribute to more battery consumption, which in turn leads to a reduced driving range.
In my opinion, Audi didn’t add enough aerodynamic features to their large SUV to help counter wind resistance. The strain that is on the e-tron’s battery at higher speeds really reduces how far a full charge can go.
Fast Charging Contributes to Reduced Range
Another battery-consuming feature is the e-tron’s faster-charging capacity. While Tesla’s cars have access to higher charging rates via the Tesla superchargers, the battery doesn’t maintain a high rate of charge.
Audi, on the other hand, equipped the e-tron to maintain up to 150 kW current while charging for longer. Even when the battery reaches 80%, the current is at 125 kW. To pull off this charging efficiency, the manufacturer added a lot of bulk to the battery (and the car), which likely contributed to the reduced driving range.
Colder Temperatures Can Affect Driving Range
While this doesn’t apply to all Audi e-Trons, a significant number of users have noticed that driving in colder temperatures brings down driving range to up to half the EPA estimated value. If you’re on a trip expecting your car to drive for a certain distance and find that it stops before the mark—consider the weather.
The E-Tron’s Low Range Compared to Others
Is it really that bad? Well, not really. According to Audi, the 2019 e-tron’s EPA estimated range is around 204 miles (328 km). That’s more than most other EV’s on the market nowadays. Because it was marketed as Tesla’s rival, let’s compare the two vehicles side by side.
Let’s take a look at EPA’s estimated range for a few similarly sized vehicles (including the e-tron).
| Car (Make and Model) | EPA Estimated Range | Battery Capacity |
| Audi e-tron | 204 miles (328 km) | 95 kWh |
| Tesla Model X Long Range | 325 miles (523 km) | 100 kWh |
| Jaguar I-PACE | 234 miles (377 km) | 90 kWh |
| Mercedes EQC | 223 miles (359 km) | 85 kWh |
All the vehicles in the above table are all-electric SUVs released around the same time as Audi’s e-tron. It’s clear that the Audi has a comparatively lower range despite having such a large battery. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I believe Audi chose quality and efficiency over driving range in its manufacturing process.
The starkest difference is between the e-tron and Jaguar’s I-PACE, where the Jaguar provides a higher range on a lower battery. However, it’s worth mentioning that the Jaguar is a lot smaller than the e-tron and, thus, a lot more aerodynamic. I doubt that the I-PACE strains its battery at high speeds as much as the e-tron does.
In Audi’s defense, most people rarely make trips that regularly exceed 50 miles (80 km), so a lower range isn’t that big of an issue. You’ll only really feel the difference when going on a long road trip. However, given the efficient charging system that Audi has manufactured, topping up your battery shouldn’t be a big issue.
