The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback: The Complete Guide For India

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Electric Cars: The Basics

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For those of you new to zero-emission electric driving, we recommend a read of the following articles:

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The Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback

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Audi AG, a Bavaria (Germany) based luxury automotive manufacturer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, the Germany automotive group. Volkswagen AG is one of the leading automotive companies in the global electric vehicle (EV) industry. Volkswagen aims to sell 3 million electric vehicles by 2025 and launch up to 70 new EV models over the next 10 years.

With the launch of its electric vehicle ID. Family, VW is fast cementing a dominant position is to become the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer by 2028, with the automotive behemoth planning to manufacturer 22 million electric vehicles.  The Audi all-electric e-tron portfolio includes:

• Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback
• Audi SQ8 e-tron SUV
• Audi Q8 e-tron SUV
• Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback
• Audi Q4 e-tron SUV
• Audi e-tron S Sportback
• Audi e-tron S SUV
• Audi e-tron GT
• Audi e-tron SUV
• Audi e-tron Sportback
• Audi RS e-tron GT
• Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback

The all-electric Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback is the range-topping EV, replacing the first-generation Audi e-tron Sportback. The Q8 e-tron is also available in a more traditional SUV body style. Both EVs are being manufactured at the Audi Brussels factory.

The Audi Sportback body style was first shown in 2009. For those seeking a sportier exterior styling, the coupé-SUV roofline of the Q8 e-tron Sportback will appeal. According to Audi, “the Sportback e-tron has the unmistakable dimensions of an SUV – with the dynamic silhouette of a sporty coupé“. Indeed, this is correct, in that, the length, wheelbase and width of the Q8 SUV and Q8 Sportback are similar. However the key differences are in the height and the boot space.

The Q8 SUV height is 1633mm, while the height for the Sportback is 1619mm. The Sportback has a smaller boot (528 L) compared to the SUV (569 L). Both body styles have a frunk (62 L). Also, given the sleeker roof, headroom is compromised in the cabin and rear-view visibility impacted.

However, in return, the aerodynamics and efficiency of the electric vehicle is improved, compared to a more traditional SUV body style. The Q8 Sportback has an improved aerodynamic efficiency (0.24 Cd), compared to the traditional SUV (0.27 Cd). Moreover, for the latest generation e-tron Sportback, the drag coefficient has been reduced from 0.26 to 0.24 Cd.

The Q8 pure electric Sportback is available in two EV battery sizes: 95 kWh and 114 kWh. An increase in size from the original Audi e-tron Sportback, which was also available in two battery sizes (71.2 kWh/ 95 kWh). Audi claims that the Q8 e-tron Sportback can achieve an electric range up to 470 km (WLTP) for the 95 kWh EV battery, and an e-range up to 555 km (WLTP) for the larger 114 kWh EV battery. Both options offer marginally more zero-emission range, compared to the traditional SUV body style.

Of course, the real-world zero-emission electric range will differ from the manufacturer quoted range. Expect a real-world e-range closer to 400 km for the 95 kWh EV battery and up to 466 km for the 114 kWh EV battery. Certainly, a useful and practical range for short and long distance travel.

Audi has marginally improved the high-speed DC charging capability of the latest e-tron Sportback. The EV offers rapid DC charging up to 170 kW, but only for the 55 e-tron variant. The 50 e-tron variant is available with 150 kW DC. The 95 kWh EV battery will take 28 minutes to achieve up to 80% charge at 150 kW DC, and will take up to 1 hour and 16 minutes to achieve 80% charge at 50 kW DC. The 114 kWh EV battery can be charged up to 80% in 31 minutes at 170 kW DC and 1 hour and 18 minutes at 50 kW DC.

The Q8 e-tron Sportback has a three-phase 11 kW AC onboard charger as standard, with the option to upgrade to a 22 kW AC onboard charger. If you expect the majority of the charging to be done at home, upgrading to a 22 kW AC onboard charger will not be required, as most homes in India are powered by single-phase power supply i.e. in reality you will be charging at 7.4 kW AC.

For those fortunate enough to have access to 11 kW three-phase EV charging at the workplace or any other public charging points, the 95 kWh EV battery can be fully charged in 9 hours and 15 minutes for 11kW AC charging. At 22 kW AC charging, it will take up to 4 hours and 45 minutes.

For the larger EV battery (114 kWh), at 11 kW AC charging, it will take 11 hours and 30 minutes, and for 22 kW AC charging, it will take up to 6 hours. Of course, charging at single-phase (7.4 kW AC) will take longer compared to three-phase EV charging.

At 7.4 kW AC, the 95 kWh EV battery will take 14 hours and 30 minutes to fully charge, while 114 kWh will take up to 18 hours. We at e-zoomed recommend a ‘topping up’ approach to charging an electric car, this way, charging times are always shorter!

The improvements for the latest generation e-tron continues: as an example, the Q8 e-tron Sportback has an improved asynchronous motor concept. It has upgraded the previous generation 12 coils to 14, further improving the delivery of torque for the Q8 and also reducing the energy required.

The pure electric Q8 e-tron Sportback is available in two drivetrain options, the 50 e-tron and the 55 e-tron. Despite the weight of the four-wheel drive electric SUV (2,585 kg), the performance is impressive. The higher specification, 55 e-tron can achieve 0-100 km/h in 5.6 seconds (maximum power: 408 PS/ torque: 664 Nm). The 50 e-tron can achieve 0-100 km/h in 6 seconds (maximum power: 340 PS/ torque: 664 Nm). The top speed of the EV is 200 km/h.

In terms of interior quality, equipment and technology, it reflects the premium price tag. The Q8 Sportback EV has 40 driver assistance systems, supported by five radar sensors, five cameras and 12 ultrasonic sensors. The EV also incorporates remote paring assist plus, which is perfect for those tight parking spaces. The Q8 also uses the MMI touchscreen operating system, as is the case with the other Audi electric cars. The Q8 has two high-resolution displays, 8.6 inch and 10.1 inch.

As is the trend now with global automotive manufacturers, Audi is also keen to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability, in particular, in regards to materials used for production. Audi has used recycled materials for insulation, damping and carpeting. The EV also incorporates recycled automotive plastic waste. The Q8 e-tron is expected to be certified as net-carbon-neutral for customers in Europe and the USA.

Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet!

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PROS	CONS
Improved and good pure electric range	Cheaper pure electric SUVs are available
Attractive Coupé-SUV exterior styling	22 kW AC onboard charger not standard
11 kW AC onboard charger as standard	170 kW DC rapid charging not available on all variants

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The All-Electric Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback (credit: Audi)

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Battery-Electric Vehicle (BEV)
Vehicle Type:	Coupé-SUV
Engine:	Electric
Available In India:	No

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Trims (1 Option)
Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback (from Rs N/A )

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in two battery sizes: 95 kWh/ 114 kWh
Charging:	170 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 28-31 mins). Onboard charger: 11kW AC (0%-100%: 9.15 hrs – 11.30 hrs)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	0g (CO2/km)
Battery Warranty:	8 years or 160,000 km

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Charging Times (Overview)
Slow charging AC (3 kW – 3.6 kW):	6 – 12 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SOC)
Fast charging AC (7 kW – 22 kW):	3 – 8 hours (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging AC (43 kW):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Rapid charging DC (50 kW+):	0-80%: 20 mins to 60 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Ultra rapid charging DC (150 kW+):	0-80% : 20 mins to 40 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)
Tesla Supercharger (120 kW – 250 kW):	0-80%: up to 25 mins (dependent on size of EV battery & SoC)

• Note 1: SoC: state of charge

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Dimensions
Height (mm):	1619
Width (mm):	2189
Length (mm):	4915
Wheelbase (mm):	2928
Turning Circle (m):	N/A
Boot Space (L):	528

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Q8 50 e-tron quattro
EV Battery Capacity:	95 kWh (89 kWh net capacity)
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	470 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km):	23.7 – 19.6
Charging:	150 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 28 mins). Onboard charger: 11kW AC (0%-100%: 9 hrs 15 mins)
Top Speed:	200 km/h
0-100 km/h:	6.0 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	250
Max Power (PS):	340
Torque (Nm):	664
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,585
Colours:	9
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Q8 55 e-tron quattro
EV Battery Capacity:	114 kWh (106 kWh net capacity)
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	555 km
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km):	24.1 – 19.9
Charging:	170 kW DC charging (10%-80%: 30 mins). Onboard charger: 11kW AC (0%-100%: 11 hrs 30 mins)
Top Speed:	200 km/h
0-100 km/h:	5.6 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	300
Max Power (PS):	408
Torque (Nm):	664
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,585
Colours:	9
NCAP Safety Rating:	N/A

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Electric Driving: Top 5 EV Jargons For India

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Many of us living in India, have now come across an electric car, like the Tata Nexon EV. Some have been fortunate enough to even drive in one, or even better, own an e-vehicle. Even though, India, is still at a nascent stage in terms of electric driving, the latest-generation of electric cars, like the all-electric Kia EV6, are already on roads in India. Of course, also on our roads are other Tata and Mahindra electric cars.

Despite the increased visibility of EVs in India, the vocabulary (jargon) used in electric driving is still new to consumers. In fact, for many, it can seem daunting and confusing. We have therefore put below some of the more commonly used terms in the EV glossary, to give you an easier introduction to electric driving in India!

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EV Glossary: Top 5
DoD (Depth-Of-Charge):	What is Depth-Of-Charge? A battery’s Depth-of-Charge is the level of discharge of a battery. As you drive an EV, the battery is discharged. The DoD indicates the % that has been discharged relative to the capacity of a battery. Conversely, a State-of-Charge (SOC), is the percentage of capacity still available in a battery. If you use 25% of your EV battery capacity, then the DoD is 25% and the SOC is 75%. It is recommended not to fully discharge an electric car battery, as this reduces the lifespan of a battery. Automotive manufacturers publish recommend DoD levels for charging, but a charging range between 20% to 80% is ideal.
EV Battery Life:	What is the life of an EV battery? Like petrol and diesel engines, electric car batteries also have a finite lifespan. Though EV battery technology has come a long way over the past few years, battery degradation is inevitable. Just as normal wear and tear is the case for an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle. Currently most EV manufacturers are offering a warranty up to 8 years or 100,000 miles. However, some automotive manufacturers are offering an even longer EV battery warranty. An example is the Japanese automotive manufacturer, Toyota. The company offers a 10 years EV battery warranty for the all-electric Toyota bZ4X SUV. In most cases, such warranties are up to 70% of the original EV battery capacity. The battery life is impacted by a number of factors, which in turn impacts battery electrical performance, to include, the range the electric car can travel. The most commonly used batteries in electric cars are lithium-ion batteries.
Frunk:	What is a frunk? Though a frunk is not a new term, its availability is becoming more widespread with the development of electric vehicles (EVs). A frunk is a storage space/ compartment/ trunk in the front of a vehicle, rather than the rear. In the case of pure electric cars, given that these vehicles do not have an onboard internal combustion engine (ICE), there is space for a frunk. It is worth noting that a frunk is usually much smaller than a trunk, and in EVs, a good space for storing the EV cable.
One-Pedal Driving:	What is one-pedal driving? In one-pedal driving, the EV slows down or stops, when the pedal is released. One-pedal functionality reduce the need to use the brake pedal, for speed reduction or stopping. Of course, the brake pedal is still the best way to hold a vehicle in place at a complete stop.
WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure):	In a bid to continue to improve the quality of realistic data released by automotive manufacturers, on economy, range and CO2 emissions, Europe has implemented its first phase for the WLTP program. The testing procedures under WLTP will result in reduced ranges for electric cars released under other previous testing regimes. The WLTP is seen as a significant improvement over the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) designed in the 1980s and based on theoretical driving. The WLTP has been developed with the aim of becoming a global standard, so that cars can be easily compared between regions.

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While e-zoomed uses reasonable efforts to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some of the information provided is gathered from third parties and has not been independently verified by e-zoomed. While the information from the third party sources is believed to be reliable, no warranty, express or implied, is made by e-zoomed regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of any information. This disclaimer applies to both isolated and aggregate uses of this information.

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