INGOLSTADT: Audi’s electric models incorporate a suite of functions that accelerate high-power charging and streamline station selection, yielding shorter stops and greater convenience.
Central to this capability is preconditioning: actively managing the high-voltage battery (HV battery) temperature so that it sits within the optimal 25°C to 45°C window before a high-power DC fast-charging (HPC) session begins.
Above 50°C, battery electronics and chemistry risk degradation; below 25°C, internal resistance rises and charging slows.
To address this, Q6 e-tron, A6 e-tron, e-tron GT and Q4 e-tron models employ a predictive thermal management system that heats or cools the pack en route to a selected HPC station, automatically invoked when the station is entered as a destination in Audi’s e-tron route planner.
Once the battery is preconditioned, maximum charge rates are achieved most efficiently when the state of charge (SoC) at start-up is low — ideally between 5 per cent and 40 per cent.
Above 40 per cent SoC, the vehicle automatically tapers charging power to protect battery longevity and because of inherent physical limits, reducing kilowatt throughput per minute.
Consequently, brief top-ups at HPC locations deliver a faster kilometres-per-minute return than a single lengthy session to, say, 80 per cent.
The integrated e-tron route planner not only triggers preconditioning but also collates live station data—available plugs, power ratings, occupancy levels, operators, technical uptime and payment methods.
It dynamically sequences charging stops based on route elevation changes, traffic flow, driving style and user preferences for minimum and maximum SoC thresholds.
This approach ensures that each charging pause is as brief and predictable as possible—and that drivers avoid unsuitable stations.
By combining battery thermal management, SoC-optimised charging strategy and an intelligent navigation-charging interface, Audi’s electric range reduces dwell time at chargers and removes much of the guesswork from journey planning.
Charging thus becomes a routine akin to refuelling, with minimal disruption to travel.
