When evaluating a new electric vehicle, the focus often remains on the all-electric range. “Our analyses show that today, an electric vehicle must offer a real-world range of 450 to 500 kilometres to be attractive,” says Florian Hauser, responsible of product marketing for the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) and thus also for the Audi Q6 e-tron series. That’s why this matter was given particular attention during the development process: the rear-wheel-drive model variant Audi Q6 e-tron performance¹ can cover up to 641 kilometres² on a single charge according to WLTP. Thus, the SUV is equally suitable for everyday driving and for spontaneous or planned long-distance trips.

However, it would be too narrow a view to focus on just one key figure. In addition to the specific range, you should also consider the charging performance and the digital ecosystem in which a vehicle is embedded. “There is a technical side to this, and another side that is closely related to comfort and the seamless integration of digital services,” says Hauser, explaining that a great deal of work has been done in the development of the PPE in general and the Audi Q6 e-tron in particular to make charging and charging planning as easy and practical as possible for everyday use.

It starts with the fact that you will find on board a new generation of the Audi e-tron route planner, i.e. the navigation system in which charging planning is also integrated. The large panoramic display makes it much easier to select the desired charging points or to respond to the system’s recommendations. The planning, which can also be conveniently done via the myAudi app, takes into account forecasts of the traffic situation and the availability of the charging points. You will also get information on the charging capacity or the providers of the respective charging points. Once the destination of the journey has been defined, the Audi Q6 e-tron identifies charging points that can be reached at the battery’s ideal state of charge (SoC) and preconditions the high-voltage battery accordingly.

These are the prerequisites for the best possible charging performance. Depending on the outside and system temperature, the intelligent thermal management system in the Audi Q6 e-tron automatically cools or warms the high-voltage battery to achieve the ideal temperature range. With a maximum of 270 kW³, the Audi Q6 e-tron offers an outstanding charging power in its segment. “In addition, we combine the high power with an extended charging plateau to create an optimised charging curve. This means that the high charging power can be accessed over a long period of time.”

What is crucial, because it is easier to compare than maximum power, is the increase from 10 percent state of charge (SoC) to 80 percent. With the Audi Q6 e-tron, this jump takes just 21 minutes at an HPC charging station³. In 10 minutes³, you can charge enough energy for a range of up to 260 kilometres, which is currently outstanding in this vehicle segment. But when you do need or want to charge, it should be as convenient as possible. With Audi charging, Audi offers convenient authorisation of charging processes with an RFID card, via the myAudi app or via Plug & Charge in a network of around 700,000 public charging points. With Plug & Charge, the billing process in the background takes place fully and directly between the charging station and the vehicle. The necessary information for charging and billing is displayed right away in the myAudi app. “This creates a truly premium experience,” Hauser summarises.

It is the combination of range, charging performance and connectivity that makes the Audi Q6 e-tron stand out. “Another major advantage, which in my view is also far too rarely considered,” Florian Hauser adds, “is the fact that, in theory, you can charge it anywhere there is electricity. It is difficult to imagine a petrol or diesel filling station right next to your favourite café in the city centre or at a remote destination in the mountains.”