Audi launching RUC-free diesel-electric SUV

Audi New Zealand is launching its first production diesel plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in the form of the Q7 e-tron SUV.

“The government’s EV strategy and New Zealand’s availability of renewable energy are providing a framework which is allowing us to be amongst the first global markets for Audi’s electric vehicle products,” says Audi New Zealand general manager Dean Sheed.

“New Zealand is the first market in Asia Pacific to launch the Q7 SUV PHEV,” he says.

It is now available in Audi dealerships with pricing from $158,400 plus on-road costs.

The five-seat only Q7 e-tron sits at the upper end of the 2017 model year price list in between the $139,900 200kW Q7 TDI S-Line and the range-topping $177,400 SQ7, both of which seat up to seven people.

Due to the current legislation around road user charges (RUC), the new Q7 e-tron is considered an electric vehicle.

Therefore, unlike the standard Q7 TDI models, it is exempted from paying the additional tax.

Installing the high-voltage battery in the space underneath the luggage compartment doesn’t allow for the third row of seats found in the other Q7 variants.

Under the bonnet is a 3-litre V6 turbodiesel engine which is producing 190kW of power and 600Nm of torque, and it runs in parallel with an electric motor producing 94kW of power and 350Nm of torque.

The combination of the two powertrains is providing 275kW of power and 700Nm of torque allowing the Q7 e-tron to retain the same 3500kg braked towing capacity of its non-hybrid TDI siblings.

According to Audi New Zealand, the high-voltage battery provides 17.3kWh of energy at a rated voltage of 308 volts which permits a range of up to 56km during electric-only operation.

What’s more impressive is that the Q7 e-tron will tow a 2500kg boat in full electric mode as seen in the picture above.

A full charge of the battery takes two and half hours from empty using a 7.2kW industrial outlet, or around 8 hours on a household outlet depending on the capacity of the available charging infrastructure.

Audi includes a charging cable for public stations plus a charging cable for with power connections for domestic and industrial sockets which also contains a built-in graphic display.

The Q7 e-tron also features a thermal management system with integrated heat pump, developed especially for it.

Audi says it is the first manufacturer to market such technology in the automotive segment.