On Wednesday, Audi announced that it tested its forthcoming electric e-Tron crossover at the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, which stands at 14,115 feet. This rigorous evaluation focused on the vehicle’s regenerative braking system, designed to convert kinetic energy into electricity that can recharge the battery.
During the descent, covering 19 miles (31 kilometers) and an elevation drop of 6,234 feet, the e-Tron’s regenerative braking system, producing 300 newton-meters (221 pound-feet) of torque and 220 kilowatts of power, recovered enough energy to allow the vehicle to effectively travel “approximately the same distance.” According to an Audi spokesperson, this energy recovery was in the range of 10 kilowatt-hours, indicating that the e-Tron can traverse about three kilometers for every kilowatt-hour of stored energy.
Audi asserts that its system surpasses the efficiency of regenerative braking systems found in currently available electric vehicles and accounts for up to 30 percent of the energy required to achieve its maximum range of 249 miles (400 kilometers). Based on these figures, we can infer that the e-Tron features a battery capacity of at least 90 kWh.
The regenerative braking system in the e-Tron operates in three different modes, which can be adjusted using shift paddles in the vehicle. In the lowest setting, the automated regeneration can be turned off and will only engage when the driver applies the brake. Normal braking, with deceleration of less than 0.3 G-forces, will rely entirely on regenerative braking. If the system detects heavier braking through the car’s accelerometer, it will activate traditional disc brakes, managed electronically to ensure a smooth transition between braking systems.
At higher settings, substantial regenerative braking activates when the driver eases off the accelerator. Additionally, when paired with the e-Tron’s available adaptive cruise control, the vehicle can autonomously adjust its speed in response to surrounding traffic.
The robust regenerative braking capabilities are essential for the e-Tron to recover the energy utilized by its dual electric motors, which deliver 265 kilowatts (355 horsepower) and 561 newton-meters (414 pound-feet) of torque, allowing the car to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds. Its maximum speed of 124 mph (200 kph) can be sustained for nearly one minute before the motors switch to a more efficient operating mode.
Audi confirmed to The Drive that it currently has no plans to enter the e-Tron in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, despite this year’s electric vehicles making a significant mark in the competition.
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