Audi used the A3 wagon to test its electric powertrain, in what could be its first production electric car.
(Credit: Wayne Cunningham/CNET)
Ever since 2009, Audi has been showing off enticing electric cars under the e-tron name, its brand for any electrified powertrain. I finally got to drive one during a green industry conference in San Francisco, but it was a far cry from the original sporty looking e-tron concept. However, the A3 e-tron looks a lot more like a car that Audi would put into production.
Earlier this year I drove the Volkswagen eGolf, the electric version of the Golf, with which the A3 e-tron shares more than a few similarities. Both uses a 26.5 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and 85 kilowatt electric motor to drive the front wheels. With a single speed reduction gearbox, that powertrain seems a lot simpler than the internal combustion engine that lives under a standard A3's hood.
Audi A3 e-tron on the road (pictures)
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