Audi A1 e-tron wins electric car rally

Audi has won this year's Silvretta Electric Car Rally in the Montafon region of Austria, on highly taxing mountain roads with inclines up to 15%.

After three days in the Alps, 307km and a total altitude difference of 11,541 metres, the A1 e-tron bearing number 206 was named the winner. It was driven by Franciscus van Meel, Audi's Head of Electromobility Strategy, with long-time Audi employee Gerhard Gruber taking on the important role of co-driver.

"Sending an electric car into the Alps is one of the toughest challenges you can present it with," van Meel said after crossing the finishing line. "The fact that the e-tron proved so impressive here is especially gratifying to me, and it proves we're on the right track with our approach of combining an electric motor with a combustion engine."

Describing the rally itself, he said: "On the first day we drove cautiously and despite a distance of just over 100km we finished with a lot of electricity left in the battery. On the second day we were better prepared and were able to win; on day three we came second, and in the end that was enough for overall victory. The car ran flawlessly. We're now looking forward to the 2012 rally. We already have a few ideas about the kind of concepts we'll enter with."

The A1 e-tron contains technology that Audi's development engineers are using to study the mobility requirements for such a future-oriented concept. The technological basis of the A1 e-tron includes an electric motor with a maximum output of 75 kW that is powered by a lithium-ion battery. The battery features a 12 kWh capacity and can be completely charged in 30 minutes (quick charge), or in less than three hours (standard).

It offers a range of 50km. To prevent drivers from being stranded by an empty battery, the A1 e-tron also comes equipped with a combustion engine, which can charge the battery as needed. The one-disc rotary engine (254 cc) is located under the trunk floor; it provides 15 kW of output intended solely to charge the battery, rather than to directly power the wheels.

The 2011 victory followed the R8 e-tron's win last year. The other Audi in the rally this year, a
Q5 HFC with a fuel cell finished in sixth out of 32 vehicles - the best result of any car with a fuel cell.