Audi unveils most efficient EV ever with 401-mile range 29-minute fast charging

German luxury car maker Audi has just unveiled its all-electric compact A2 e-tron that can travel up to 401 miles (646 kilometers) on a single charge, and is said to be the company’s most efficient EV yet. The new A2 was presented in Paris on Tuesday, September 8, by Audi CEO Gernot Döllner. It is reportedly part of the firm’s initiative to make EVs more practical for everyday use. According to the company, it consumes just 12.8 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per 62 miles (100 km) under the WLTP testing cycle. This apparently makes it the most efficient series-production vehicle the company has ever built. The A2 e-tron was specifically built for European customers. It will be produced at Audi’s Ingolstadt plant. “For electric mobility to succeed across Europe, it has to work in people’s everyday lives,” Döllner said. “And it has to be efficient, attractive and easy to use.” Extending EV range The A2 e-tron pairs an efficient electric powertrain with a streamlined body and a drag coefficient of just 0.24. It will be offered with three battery sizes, including 52 kWh, 61 kWh, and 84 kWh. The largest pack, paired with the 170-kW powertrain, could provide up to 401 miles of WLTP range. Four power options will also be available. They will range from 125 kW in the base model to 240 kW in the most powerful version. The 84-kWh model will support DC fast charging at up to 183 kW. According to Audi, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in around 29 minutes. Audi CEO Gernot Döllner unveiled the Audi A2 e-tron in Paris.Credit: Audi AG The smaller 52-kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery will reportedly support charging speeds of up to 100 kW. It will be able to charge from 10 to 80 percent in approximately 14 minutes. By contrast, 61-kWh version will take roughly 25 minutes at up to 105 kW. “The Audi A2 e-tron is a strong proof of what our brand can achieve when we focus on what truly matters,” Döllner added. “It does not ask customers to adapt their lives to electric mobility. It adapts electric mobility to their lives.” More than just charging The EV also supports bidirectional charging. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology lets owners use energy stored in the battery to power external electrical devices. This functionality will make it possible for users in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, to supply electricity to a home through a compatible DC wall box. The vehicle measures 170 inches (4.32 meters) long and 70.5 inches (1.79 meters) wide, with a 109-inch (2.77-meter) wheelbase. It is equipped with several driver-assistance systems as standard. These include adaptive cruise control, emergency braking assistance, attention assistance, parking sensors, and a reversing camera. Impressions from the media premiere in Paris.Credit: Audi AG The EV revives a name Audi first introduced more than 25 years ago. The original A2 became known for its lightweight design and unusually low fuel consumption. “If we want to bring back the idea of the A2 for a new era, efficiency cannot be one requirement among many. It has to be the leading principle,” Döllner stated in a press release. “The result is the most efficient Audi we have ever built.” Orders are expected to open in Europe on September 10. Prices in Germany start at USD 45,000 (EUR 38,200) for the 125-kW model with the 52-kWh battery. The 170-kW version with the 84-kWh battery starts at USD 56,000 (EUR 48,900), while the range-topping 240-kW model costs USD 59,000 (EUR 51,200). First customer deliveries are expected in December 2026. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.