Europe gets faster charging fro the Audi Q4 e-tron

This week brings good news for Audi Q4 e-tron customers regarding their cars’ charging speed. Admittedly, this only happens in Europe and, unfortunately, it isn’t offered to existing customers. New Audi Q4 e-tron customers will, however, get an updated charging speed, which is due entirely to software tweaks. So instead of the original 125 kW of charge speed, the updated Q4 e-tron now gets 135 kW charging.

This upgrade is applied across the board for Q4 e-tron models. The entry-level Audi Q4 e-tron models; the Q4 e-tron 40 and Q4 e-tron 40 Sportback; use a 51.5 kWh battery pack. While pricier models; Q4 e-tron 45, Q4 e-tron 50, and Q4 e-tron 50 Sportback; get a 76.6 kWh battery. With the new upgrade, the smaller battery models will charge from 5-80 percent SOC (State of Charge) in just 29 minutes. While the larger battery models will go from 5-80 percent SOC in 36 minutes.

The software update improves thermal battery management, to allow faster charging without overheating the battery. Without any mechanical changes, it’s interesting that existing vehicles can’t be updated to feature the same thermal management. As of right now, this update is only for Euro-market cars and won’t come to North American cars. So US Q4 e-tron customers will stay at 125 kW.

[Source: QuattroDaily]