Audi Q7 hybrid to lower fuel economy below 10L/100km | Hybrid/Electric

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Audi Q7 hybrid to lower fuel economy below 10L/100km

Written by James Squire

Tuesday, 20 May 2008

Though hybrid cars have enjoyed a decade of success overseas, they are just beginning to catch a firm foothold here in Australia. The race in the rest of the world is to expand hybrids from primarily small and mid-sized sedans and hatchbacks, to include mid-size and large SUVs. Audi’s announcement that it will build a Q7 hybrid means it’s going to beat its German rivals in this leg of the hybrid race, with the petrol-electric SUV due for initial release in some markets at the end of the year.

The announcement was made by Audi board manager Frank Dreves, who revealed that the hybrid SUV is being developed together with Porsche and that future collaboration on electronic architectures with the sports car maker was possible.

Dreves also pointed out that Audi will expand its model range from the current 26 vehicles to 40 in total by 2015. The keys to the growth will be to improve productivity, shorten the production cycle of each model and increase the level of component sharing.

Weak dollar means U.S. left out, but Australia a possibility
Audi has ruled out launching the Q7 hybrid in the U.S. because of the weak dollar and low demand for petrol-electric hybrids in general.

Currently only Toyota and Honda offer hybrid cars, though Holden is expected to enter the market soon with hybrid versions of the Astra and Commodore. As more car makers develop different types of hybrid models, the buying public will not only become more aware of the hybrid drivetrain option, but will also be more likely to find a hybrid vehicle that suits their needs and tastes.

The strong Australian dollar may justify Audi bringing the Q7 hybrid here, especially considering our strong market and growing demand for SUVs.

How the hybrid system works
The new Q7 hybrid due at the end of the year will feature a 34kW electric motor sandwiched between a 206kW 3.6-litre V6 FSI petrol engine and the vehicle’s torque converter.

The design is effectively a combination of the series- and parallel-hybrid types, meaning the Q7 hybrid can be driven by either the petrol motor alone, the electric motor alone, or both in conjunction. This is accomplished by a separating clutch that links the electric motor to the engine.

The electric motor provides an additional 285Nm of torque to the internal combustion engine’s 375Nm. From standstill, the concept vehicle reaches 100km/h in 7.6 seconds and can accelerate from 60 to 120km/h in fifth gear in just under 12 seconds. Despite weighing 2,480kg, average fuel-consumption measures just 9.8 litres per 100km - less than a Toyota Aurion.

Part of the efficiency is gained indirectly, by running many of the accessories, including the air conditioning compressor, the oil pumps for the power steering and automatic gearbox and the vacuum pump for the brake booster all on electric power rather than as parasitic belt-driven loads on the engine. This allows some of the energy regained through regenerative braking to power the accessories, lightening the load on the engine and improving fuel efficiency.

Audi Q7 Hybrid Concept

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