Imagine improving the performance of your car with just a few simple lines of code. But that’s exactly what Audi has done with a new software update for the e-tron 55 quattro. The 2019 and 2020 model years of this luxury EV now get an extra 20 kilometres of range, bringing them up to 441 km on a single charge.
The update increases useable power from the 95 kWh battery, but it also changes the way the front motor operates to be almost completely disconnected and shut off during normal driving, when the rear motor takes care of propulsion; this eliminates a significant amount of electrical losses. The front motor automatically comes to life when more traction and performance is needed.
The software also regulates the four separate cooling circuits more efficiently. The cooling system helps with DC fast charging and extending battery life. The software update is free but must be done at an Audi dealership.
