The Audi A7 Sportback TFSIe Plug-In Hybrid: 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 A7 TFSIe Sportback PHEV

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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 has committed to an investment up to Euro 30 billion by 2023. It 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.  Audi also offers plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), to include:

• A3 Sportback TFSIe
• A6 TFSIe
• A6 Avant TFSIe
• A7 Sportback TFSIe
• A8 TFSIe
• A8 L TFSIe
• Q3 TFSIe
• Q3 Sportback TFSIe
• Q5 TFSIe
• Q5 Sportback TFSIe
• Q7 TFSIe
• Q8 TFSIe

The Audi A7 executive premium car has been on sale since 2010. The Audi A7 Sportback concept was unveiled at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The A7 Sportback is available as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

If sportier looks matter, then certainly the Audi coupe-styled A7 Sportback should be on the list. Of course, given its premium heritage, the saloon does not come cheap. But like in all plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, there is scope to lower driving costs and achieve financial savings, but for that, the PHEV has to be driven on e-mode as much as possible.

The A7 has much to offer in terms of hybrid technology. The electric vehicle (EV) has a 17.9 kWh onboard EV battery, with a claimed emission-free electric range up to 40 miles. For most journeys, the electric motor and EV battery can be leveraged to reduce the overall tailpipe emissions of the electric vehicle and also improve the fuel economy and lower motoring costs.  

The Germany automotive manufacturer claims a fuel economy up to 235.4 mpg. However, real-world fuel economy will depend on a number of factors, to include, the amount the electric saloon has been driven on the pure electric mode. The more regular the use of the e-mode, the better the fuel economy.

Similar to the real-world fuel economy, expect the real-world pure electric range to be lower than the claimed range. For the A7 PHEV achieving up to 35 miles is not unrealistic. The real-world EV range is impacted by a number of factors, to include: driving style, speed, wheel size, weather, road condition, passenger load, services used in the EV, and more.

The A7 plug-in hybrid does not offer DC charging compatibility. The EV has a 7.2 kW AC onboard charger. Using a dedicated domestic EV charger, the A7 PHEV can be fully charged in 2.5 hours. Though an EV can be charged using a 3-PIN domestic socket, we at e-zoomed discourage the use of a domestic 3-PIN plug! 

The performance will not disappoint for those seeking a quick getaway. The 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic can achieve 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds, while the 55 TFSIe quattro S tronic can achieve it in 5.7 seconds. The top speed of the all-wheel drive EV is up to 155 mph. Of course, as is the case for electric driving, the A7 EV also benefits from instant torque. The 2.0-litre combustion engine is paired with an electric motor, delivering up to 367 PS and 500 Nm torque.

As would be expected from Audi, the interior is high quality and refined. The Audi A7 Sportback EV interior reflects the sportier styled exterior design, with a number of ‘sporty elements’ as standard for the saloon. The A7 has a driver centric cockpit and includes twin touch screens (10.1 inches and 8.6 inches). Also included is the MMI navigation plus.

Despite the sloping roofline and the placement of the onboard EV battery, the A7 saloon remains practical. Having said that, the coupe-styled roofline, does reduce the rear view visibility. The electric car offers 380 L boot space.

The EV has claimed tailpipe emissions up to 34g CO2/km. Again, substantially lower than the emissions of the conventional combustion engine variant. Bottom-line, electric driving is good for the environment and the wallet! The Audi electric car is not available in India.

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PROS	CONS
Attractive exterior styling	Expensive, in particular at higher specification variants
High quality interior and refined drive	Onboard charger limited to 7.2 kW AC. DC charging not available
Decent emission-free electric range (40 miles)	Rear view: blind spots

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The Audi A7 TFSIe Sportback PHEV (credit: Audi)

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Driving an electric vehicle (EV) is cheaper than driving a petrol or diesel vehicle. As an example, in India, filling a full tank of fuel for the internal combustion engine (ICE) Tata Nexon SUV will cost up to Rs 5,000 (assuming an average cost per litre of Rs 100. The Tata Nexon has a fuel tank capacity of 44 L).

In comparison, the Tata Nexon Pure Electric SUV will cost less than Rs 300 for a full EV battery charge (EV Battery size: 30.2 kWh). In India, the average cost for residential electricity is between Rs 5 to Rs 10 per kWh(unit). Therefore the cost to drive per km (or mile) in a pure electric vehicle is substantially lower than a petrol or diesel vehicle.

At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

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At A Glance
EV Type:	Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV)
Body Type:	Hatchback
Engine:	Petrol-Electric
Available In India:	No

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Variants (5 Options)
Sport 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic
Sport Edition 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic
S line 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic
Black Edition 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic
Vorsprung 50 TFSIe quattro S tronic

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EV Battery & Emissions
EV Battery Type:	Lithium-ion
EV Battery Capacity:	Available in one battery size: 17.9 kWh
Charging:	DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.2 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2 hrs and 30 mins)
Charge Port:	Type 2
EV Cable Type:	Type 2
Tailpipe Emissions:	34 – 29g (CO2/km)
Warranty:	8 years or 100,000 miles

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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):	1422
Width (mm):	2118
Length (mm):	4969
Wheelbase (mm):	2926
Turning Circle (m):	11.9
Boot capacity (L):	380

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50 TFSIe quattro S tronic
EV Battery Capacity:	17.9 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	40 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	18.8
Fuel Consumption (MPG):	201.8 – 235.4
Charging:	DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.2 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2 hrs and 30 mins)
Top Speed:	155 mph
0-62 mph:	6.3 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	N/A
Max Power (PS):	299
Torque (Nm):	450
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,065
Colours:	9
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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55 TFSIe quattro S tronic
EV Battery Capacity:	17.9 kWh
Pure Electric Range (WLTP):	40 miles
Electric Energy Consumption (kWh/100km):	19.4
Fuel Consumption (MPG):	201.8
Charging:	DC charging not available. On-board charger 7.2 kW AC (0% – 100%: 2 hrs and 30 mins)
Top Speed:	155 mph
0-62 mph:	5.7 seconds
Drive:	All-wheel drive (AWD)
Electric Motor (kW):	N/A
Max Power (PS):	367
Torque (Nm):	500
Transmission:	Automatic
Seats:	5
Doors:	5
Unladen Weight (kg):	2,065
Colours:	9
NCAP Safety Rating:	Five-Star

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Top Reasons To Buy An Electric Vehicle (EV)

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The past few years, in particular, 2020 and 2021, have witnessed a phenomenal increase in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). Major global economies, to include, the United States and the European Union, have documented a surge in the sales of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). In many of these countries, lower emission to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) now account for up to 15% of annual new vehicle registrations, and in some countries like Norway, even greater than 50%.

This is not a short-term trend. Instead, it is the emergence of a long-term shift towards cleaner forms of travel. Though there are many reasons to own an electric vehicle (EV), we list below some of the key reasons fuelling consumer demand for EVs.

1). Vast choice of electric vehicles

It is true, that in India, the choice of electric vehicles is still restricted, compared to international markets. In India, we have access to only up to 15 electric vehicle models to include the MG ZS EV, Hyundai Kona, Jaguar I-PACE and the Tata Nexon EV. However, in many of the matured international markets, the choice of pure electric cars and plug-in hybrid electric cars are up to 200 models. We expect this to only increase! However, we do hope India will see an increase in the variety and supply of EVs on sale, giving consumers a greater choice.

2). Increased zero-emission range

The emission-free driving range of electric cars have improved significantly in recent years, and the latest models of EVs can achieve well over 200 miles (WLTP), if not over 300 miles (WLTP) on a single charge. In general, EV battery size and efficiency have improved. As an example, the all-electric Kia e-Niro compact SUV has a range of 282 miles. The best-selling pure electric Nissan Leaf has an electric range of 239 miles on a single charge. Of course, the likes of Tesla electric cars have a range well over 300 miles on a single charge!

3). Increased public charging infrastructure

Yes, it is true that the public charging infrastructure in India is at a nascent stage, but in a number of international markets, AC fast charging and DC rapid charging stations are now widespread. As an example, in the UK, there are as many public charging stations as there are petrol pumps! This increase in charging accessibility has driven confidence in consumers who were hesitant to migrate to zero-tailpipe emission electric cars i.e. no more range anxiety! Of course, many homes in the UK also have a dedicated EV charger. For EVs to succeed in India, the deployment of public and home EV charging infrastructure is mandatory.

4). Lower running and maintenance costs

Electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts compared to conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The lower number of moving parts has reduced the maintenance burden of EVs, resulting in lower maintenance costs. Electric cars are also cheap to drive. At an average one can expect a cost per km of Rs 1 for a zero-emission EV, while for an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle, the cost per km could be up to Rs 7 per km. The annual cost savings achieved by switching to electric driving is significant!

5). Lower air pollution

However, in our view the greatest benefit of driving electric vehicles, in particular, pure electric vehicles, is the absence of tailpipe emissions. Electric cars do not even have a tailpipe! Zero-emission electric driving has a real and immediate impact on local air quality i.e. reducing air pollution. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have reduced tailpipe pollution compared to traditional petrol and diesel vehicles.

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