There are both gasoline (TFSI e) and diesel models in the Audi Hybrid lineup (TDI e). Audi’s characteristic direct-injection turbocharged engine is used in both fuel types along with an electric motor:
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Audi Q5 TFSI e
The Audi Q5 is a mid-range SUV and the brand’s most recent petrol plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) vehicle.
The Audi Q5 TFSI e has an all-electric range of 26 miles and a top speed of 84 mph. There is no need to find a charging station because you can still operate the internal combustion engine when the car is plugged in because the battery will recharge itself through regenerative braking.
How does the Q5 hybrid operate?
The Audi Q5 compact SUV is approaching the midcycle redesign after four years of its second generation. This entails improved technology, updated head- and taillight designs, and, most intriguingly, a greater emphasis on the newest member of the family: the 2021 Audi Q5 55 TFSI E Quattro, which I’ll refer to simply as the Q5 plug-in hybrid for simplicity.
The Q5 PHEV provides a versatile blend of power, efficiency, and refinement and sits between the entry-level Q5 45 TFSI and the high-performance SQ5.
The PHEV’s 248-horsepower, 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine is shared with the standard Q5. The same multilink independent suspension as the conventional model supports it, but some of its parts have been modified to account for the hybrid system’s additional weight. The only distinguishing feature between the PHEV and its more traditional equivalents is the existence of two filler doors, one for gasoline on the passenger side and one for the electric charging port on the driver’s side.
With a combined 362 horsepower, the plug-in hybrid’s gasoline engine and 141 horsepower electric motor make it the most potent Q5 model in the series, just beating out the SQ5’s 349 horsepower V6. However, it is less maneuverable than the S model and takes longer to reach 60 mph because to its 4,619-pound curb weight, which is around 331 pounds more than the SQ5. The PHEV completes the task in 5.0 seconds as opposed to the SQ5’s 4.7 ticks. The PHEV’s towing capacity of 2,000 pounds is also less than the 4,400 pounds that the other Q5 versions can tow.
The Q5’s Quattro receives the 369 pound-feet of torque from the PHEV through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. Using the Ultra all-wheel-drive system, which is Audi lingo for front-biased AWD with demand-driven rear axle engagement. When you need traction, this configuration balances it while still providing better fuel efficiency when you don’t. Additionally, the Quattro system features adjustable off-road programming that engages the rear axle more liberally in snowy or gravel road conditions.
How does the hybrid system in an Audi operate?
The name is crucial to understanding mild hybrids, therefore pay particular attention to it. Since it’s moderate, it stands to reason that there isn’t as much electrical assistance present. In a mild hybrid, the engine drives the wheels; unlike a conventional car, the electric components of the powertrain are unable to do so. We drove conventional gasoline vehicles and moderate hybrids side by side and couldn’t tell much of a difference. These systems, however, have allowed manufacturers to increase fuel efficiency, making them a clever addition to regular petrol and diesel cars.
Since mild-hybrid vehicles are essentially already-existing petrol and diesel versions with mild-hybrid technology added to cut their emissions, we anticipate that sales of these vehicles will continue to rise in the years to come. In general, they will continue to be less expensive than PHEVs and BEVs. Before 2030 ever arrives, it’s entirely possible that it will be exceedingly challenging to purchase a gasoline or diesel vehicle without some hybrid assistance.
All of the most recent Audi “S” models, as well as well-liked family SUVs like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson and smaller models like the Ford Puma, Ford Fiesta, Fiat 500, and Fiat Panda, are currently equipped with this technology. Volkswagen and BMW are only two automakers who have begun to provide this technology in their family vehicles.
Therefore, what precisely is a mild hybrid? Continue reading to find out what mild-hybrid technology is and why you’re going to be hearing it a lot more in the future.
Mild hybrid: definition
The main distinction between a traditional hybrid and a mild hybrid is that although the electric motor in a classic hybrid may propel the vehicle on its own, the motor in a mild hybrid can only support the engine; hence, the term “mild.”
Different mild-hybrid configurations operate in various ways. In the Suzuki Swift and Suzuki Ignis models, for instance, the SHVS (Smart Hybrid Vehicle by Suzuki) technology combines a “starter generator” and a relatively small 0.37kWh (kilowatt hour) battery pack. Through the use of a belt-drive system, the generator’s built-in motor can be used to aid the engine during heavy acceleration and to help the stop-start system start the engine more smoothly.
On the other hand, Suzuki’s technology has a more limited operational effect than the mild hybrid setup found in the most recent Audi A8 and Audi A7 Sportback models, which are both available in all trim levels. The MHEV system, developed by Audi, is supported by a 48-volt electrical system. Because of the starter generator’s increased power, the car’s engine can be shut off when coasting for up to 40 seconds before automatically starting again when acceleration is required. Compared to prior models’ traditional stop-start, this is believed to save more gasoline.
However, not all mild hybrid systems are concerned about fuel economy. In order to support a number of the car’s auxiliary systems, the LaFerrari, Ferrari’s previous flagship hypercar, employed its mild-hybrid system to increase the engine’s tremendous output. The company’s Formula 1 automobiles served as the inspiration for this invention.
Mild hybrid vehicles are subject to a slightly reduced amount of VED tax compared to a regular petrol or diesel vehicle, much like other types of hybrid vehicles. However, it’s unlikely that you’ll see a significant difference at the pumps.
Mild hybrid vs. full hybrid
Despite the fact that few people would consider the LaFerrari and range-topping Audis to be economical, a mild hybrid arrangement is less expensive to produce than a full hybrid system. Because the batteries in a mild hybrid are smaller, it is also lighter. A mild-hybrid setup is more effective since mild hybrids also have a tendency to recharge their batteries from regenerative braking, something some conventional hybrids can achieve but not all.
However, there are drawbacks as well. Because mild-hybrid vehicles can’t run solely on electricity, they have higher CO2 emissions than normal hybrid vehicles and are less appealing to company car users. Those who want to be able to travel the city on electricity alone must also search elsewhere.
Does the hybrid Audi recharge while it is moving?
Charging management makes up the second leg of the objective triangle for Audi development. While cars in the medium-size class and full-size class can charge at up to 7.4 kW, the compact class PHEVs charge at 2.9 kW and 3.6 kW, respectively. For instance, utilizing an industrial power outlet to charge the battery takes two and a half to four and a half hours. The larger classes have a bigger battery and, as a result, a higher charging capacity because they use more electricity.
Most PHEV owners charge their cars once or twice a day, typically in their garage after work or on weekends. They can use certified Volkswagen Naturstrom, which is produced using only renewable energy sources, at home if they so choose.
95 percent of all private journeys in Germany are under 50 kilometers (31.1 mi) and 99 percent are under 100 kilometers (62.1 mi), according to research done by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. This indicates that the plug-in hybrid models from Audi serve the majority of their target market. In the NEDC, the Q3 and Q3 Sportback 45 TFSI e travel up to 61 kilometers (36.7 mi) on purely electric power, while the Q8 55 TFSI e travels up to 59 kilometers (36.7 mi) (37.9 mi). With no local emissions, the little A3 Sportback 40 TFSI e may travel up to 78 kilometers (48.5 miles).
Audi’s e-tron Charging Service makes it easy to recharge while driving. It provides access to around 155,000 AC charging points throughout 26 European nations with only one card. The compact charging system with a cable for household and commercial power sockets and a mode 3 cable with a type 2 connector for public charging terminals are included as standard equipment with all plug-in hybrid vehicles from Audi.
By enabling users to access the Audi connect services on their smartphones, the myAudi app enhances the convenience of daily living. Customers can initiate charging operations, set a charge timer, check the battery and range status remotely, and obtain charge and consumption statistics. The charging stations at the present location as well as the destination are shown via the app and the vehicle. Before driving off, the app can be used to warm up or cool down the vehicle. By using electricity from an electrical socket, customers can keep the vehicle’s electric range intact. They can use the pre-entry climate control to turn on the steering wheel, seats, mirror, windshield, and rear window, as well as the seat ventilation, depending on how equipped they are.
How long does it take an Audi Q5 hybrid to charge completely?
The Q5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV) expands on a popular design by adding an all-wheel-drive system and a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine. The Q5 can go up to 26 miles on pure electric power alone, and it can accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds.
When using a dedicated home charger like the ones listed below, charging the Audi Q5 takes about two hours. Although the Audi Q5’s battery is rather tiny, charging nevertheless happens quite quickly despite the lack of a rapid charging feature.
How many miles can the hybrid Audi Q5 travel?
I’ve never given my vehicles names, but the 2021 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid that I recently spent a week in offered Sybil as a suggestion. It’s the title of a 1976 movie that was based on the 1973 best-seller that made a sensation out of the life of Shirley Mason, a woman who claimed to be controlled by 16 different personalities. It presented a case of multiple personality disorder (now known as dissociative identity disorder) during my time using the Q5 plug-in that was just as compelling as Shirley’s enormously well-known account (strangely, much of her tale turned out to have been fabricated).
The Walter Mitty Luxe CUV
I left for a week at my lake home almost as soon as the 2021 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid was delivered. Because there isn’t a plug close to where we park, I diligently followed the onscreen instructions to put the Q5 in Battery Save mode so that its fully charged battery pack would have enough energy to perform at its best when I tested it at our northern test track in Michigan’s thumb. The Q5 operates like a mild hybrid in this mode, conserving all of the battery energy it has built up during acceleration.
The Audi plug-in behaves like a 4,760-pound SUV with a 248-hp, 273-lb-ft 2.0-liter turbo-four once you reach to driving speeds, yet it will still move out of the driveway in electric mode. She’s no fireworks, each horse pulling 19.2 pounds. Sybil tested in Battery Save wafted to 60 mph in a leisurely 8.5 seconds and then completed a quarter-mile pass at 81.7 mph in 16.7 seconds. The 2.4-liter, non-turbo 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander performs almost identically to a less upscale plug-in hybrid that lacks the Q5’s sports aspirations. It’s a derogatory analogy.
The Poky E-SUV
Of course, driving plug-in hybrids in battery electric mode is how society prefers that we do. You won’t be able to obtain the Q5’s attractive 43/64/50-mpg-e city/highway/combined EPA figures until at least 70% of your driving is done in this mode. The central console has a button that, when touched, enters EV mode, allowing Sybil to switch into her even mousier 141-hp/258-lb-ft quiet mime persona. The Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid limped to 60 in 16.4 seconds and lumbered across the quarter-mile line in 20.9 seconds at 66.8 mph with each overburdened horse now toting 33.8 pounds. That’s assuming you didn’t lose patience and kick-down the engine by pressing the switch at the end of the accelerator pedal’s stroke. To locate an SUV that accelerated nearly as slowly, we had to go back to the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser, which was equipped with a sluggish 212-hp inline-six and a four-speed automatic transmission (16.2 seconds to 60 mph, 20.1 seconds at 66.3 mph through the quarter).
The RS Q5 That Audi Doesn’t Offer
My 2021 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid (PHEV for short) finally had its full 362 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of combined gas and electric motivation when I finally took it to the test track, engaged the Dynamic drive select setting, and let it run in its Hybrid mode. Our docile Q5 suddenly changed into the fastest Q5 model we’ve tested, accelerating to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds and barreling through the quarter-mile lights in 13.2 seconds at 103.1 mph. That puts it two tenths faster than the fastest Audi SQ5 V-6 turbo we’ve tested, which only makes 349 horsepower but is 308 pounds lighter and delivers the same amount of torque (369 lb-ft). The Porsche Macan S and the inconspicuous Q5 plug-in, which share a corporate MLB platform, are competitive at full power.
To get the turbo spooling, the pedal overlap technique, often known as “brake-torque,” was used to accomplish the performance mentioned above. The quarter-mile trap speed decreases to 98.7 mph if you merely floor the gas after coming to a halt, and the times are off by two or three tenths. To reach our best time, we typically only make two or three laps in each direction. However, with this plug-in Audi, I made back-to-back runs to drain the battery and see if the performance of the hybrid mode would deteriorate to the same level as that of Battery Save mode. Not at all. Presumably, slowing down from 100 mph repeatedly recovered enough electrons to give all 362 horses enough energy to run continuously.
How Does the 2021 Audi Q5 Plug-In Hybrid Handle?
When you turn the steering wheel or slam on the brakes, this does not feel like an RS Q5. With stops from 60 mph taking 116 feet instead of the 104 and 107 required by the SQ5 and Macan S, those 308 extra pounds became apparent. Additionally, even while the Q5 plug-maximum in’s lateral grip of 0.92 g is respectably close to the 0.94 g recorded by its cousins, those lighter utes lack the Q5 plug-dynamic in’s playfulness.
How Does It Rank as a Plug-In?
The sensation of this car may seem strange to drivers used to PHEV and fully electric cars because the electric motor climbs up through the first few gears. The driving experience is otherwise very unremarkable. The driver’s right foot angle is essentially shown by a huge power meter that replaces the standard tachometer. When in EV mode, pushing that needle past around 55 to 60 percent power ignites the engine. (The tach is reduced to a linear gauge that is one inch long.)
When the battery was completely down after my test run, I requested the navigation system to locate the closest public charging station. All of the first-place options were in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. I paged through and plugged in while I ran the test calculations at a nearby Level 2 charger in Port Huron, Michigan. The display indicated that a full charge would take four hours, but when I left after 30 minutes, I had four miles of electric range. From there, I used Battery Save mode to drive to the cabin where I plugged in the Q5 using extension cords that I had strung from a 110-volt outlet. It took exactly 18 hours as predicted by the information screen to add the final 15 miles of range.
The 14.1 kWh capacity of our 2021 Audi Q5 plug-in hybrid is rated for a 19-mile electric range. The battery size increases to 17.9 kWh for the 2022 model year, extending the range to 23 miles. Additional powertrain improvements have also changed the engine’s output numbers, which are now 261 horsepower at 5,250 rpm and 273 lb-ft of torque at 1,600 rpm. However, neither the numbers for the electric motor output nor the overall combined system output change. Audi claims that the redesigned 2022 Q5 PHEV has a reduced curb weight, although it credits this to a change in the list of standard features. While the gas-only ratings fall to 25/27/26 mpg for 2022, the EPA’s gas+electric ratings rise to 60/61/61 mpg-e. Also take note of the $1,000 increase in the base pricing.
Should You Consider an Audi Q5 Plug-In Hybrid?
Sure. You’d never get tired of riding in Sybil, er, the Q5 PHEV, with so many personalities! Of course, if we spent around $60K on one, we’d probably settle down with its RS Q5 character and then wonder why we didn’t choose a minimally optioned base Macan instead of this heavy PHEV.