e-tron
e-tron Plug-in hybrid drive
Introduction
A pp lies to veh icles: w ith plug -in hybrid drive
General information
The plug- in hybrid drive is a drive concept that al
lows yo u to choose between driving w ith the elec
tr ic moto r, with the gaso lin e engine o r using a
comb inat io n of both.
All work done on the high-voltage system must
only be performed by certified high-voltage tech n icians at autho rized Aud i dea le rs or authorized
Aud i Serv ice Facilities in accordance with Audi
gu idelines.
The high-voltage system is composed of the fol low ing h igh-vo ltage components: the high-volt
age battery, the powe r electron ics, the e lectr ic
motor, the high-voltage A/C compressor, the
high-vo ltage heater, the charging system and
charging port as well as the orange high-voltage
wiring.
The pedal referred to in this sect ion of the Own
er's Manua l is the equivalent of the acce lerator
pedal (gas pedal) in a standard veh icle.
High-voltage battery
The high-voltage battery is located under the
rear bench seat in the veh icle and does not re
qu ire any maintenance from the driver. Addition
a l information about the high-voltage battery can
be found under
Q page 112 .
A WARNING
The voltage in the high-vo ltage system is life
threatening. Touching a damaged high-volt
age component can result in a fatal e lectr ic
shock. The components in the high-voltage
system are ma rked with a warning label which
wa rns against the h igh-vo ltage.
- The voltage level in the high-voltage system
is still dangerous and potentially life-threat
ening when the ignition is switched off.
- Never perform work on orange high-voltage
cables or on high-voltage components. Only
98
authorized repair facilities that are certified
may perform work on the high-voltage sys
tem.
- Never damage, alter or remove the orange
high-voltage cable or disconnect it from the
high-voltage system.
- Never perform any work using c utting, shap
ing or sharp-edged too ls or heat sources
near the h igh-vo ltage system and high-volt
age cables.
- Aud i regulat ions must be followed during
all work performed on the high-voltage sys
tem and h igh-vo ltage components.
- When working on the h igh-vo ltage system
and h igh-voltage compone nts, make sure
the remote cont rol key is kept far enough
away from the vehicle so that there is no
ris k of the ignit ion be ing inadve rten tly
sw itched on.
- Gases that escape from the high-vol tage
b attery can be poisono us or flammable.
- Damage to the high-voltage battery could
cause the h igh-vo ltage battery to leak im
media tely or in the fu ture, and poisonous or
flammab le gases cou ld escape . Do not in
ha le the gases!
- Do not expose yourse lf to any leaking fluids
and do not come into contact with them .
- The high-volt age battery e lectroly te fl uid is
caustic. I f electrolyte fluid comes into con
tact with the sk in, f lush the affected area
for at least 15 minutes with clean water.
Then wash the affected area with soap.
Have the affected area examined by a med i
cal professional.
- In the event of a technical emergency, in
form the responders that the vehicle is
equ ipped with a high-voltage battery.
A WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended when in
drive ready mode
~ page 100 with a gear en
gaged . The veh icle can start moving ("creep
ing") even if the gaso line engine is switched
off, since the e lectr ic motor is still operating.
This may cause collis ions and severe or fatal
-
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mode, the status message
e-"'1 o I r.-.Al"'Y ap
pears briefly in the instrument cluster display
and the needle in the power meter points to
READY ¢page 101.
-Make sure that the selector lever is in the P
position and the ignition is switched off
when leaving the vehicle.
([) Note
-The high-voltage system can be damaged if
the vehicle underbody comes into contact
with the ground. Immediately drive your ve
hicle to an authorized repair facility and
have it inspected.
- The electric drive motor can become very
hot during operation . Do not stop the vehi
cle if there is oil, fuel residue or other flam
mable substances under or next to the vehi
cle.
Special considerations for the high-voltage
battery
Please first read and note the introductory infor
mation and heed the warnings
¢page 98.
All batteries age with use and over time. There
are things you should know about the care of the
high-voltage battery that will help it keep giving
you good service and reliability over time. Please
read and keep the following information in mind
while you enjoy the performance and economy of
your vehicle.
- Be sure to charge the high-voltage battery be
fore leaving the vehicle parked and unused for a
longer period of time. Ideally the high-voltage
battery should have a charge level between
40% and 60% when parked for a long time.
- If the battery charge level is below 3%, never
park the vehicle for more than 21 days without
charging the high-voltage battery. Should you
have to park the vehicle for a long time, make
sure that the charge level is sufficient to help
prevent the battery from aging prematurely.
- Frequent and consecutive charging of the high
voltage battery when the charge level is above
98% can also decrease the capacity of the high-
e-tron
voltage battery. Make sure the charge level is
below 98% when you start the charging proc
ess.
- Should the vehicle be parked for longer than
2 days at temperatures below -13 °F (-25 °(),
the high-voltage battery could freeze and not
be able to provide energy to the electric motor.
The battery will start working again, once it
warms up . The battery can be warmed up when
the outside temperature rises or when the vehi
cle is garaged appropriately. The battery will al
so warm up when being used (switching on the
air conditioner, the heater or by driving the ve
hicle). Should you have to park your vehicle at
very low temperatures for longer than 1 day,
make sure that the high-voltage battery does
not freeze by parking the vehicle in a garage
that is heated or protected from the outside
temperature.
- The high-voltage battery can be damaged and
the capacity can be decreased when the vehicle
is parked for longer than 24 hours when the
ambient temperature is higher than 118 °F
(48 °C). Always make sure that the high-volt
age battery is not exposed to temperatures
above 118 °F (48 °C) for a long time.
- Never park the vehicle in areas that are likely to
be flooded, such as beaches or river banks, and
never drive the vehicle in WATER, on flooded
roads or through water that is higher than the
bottom of the vehicle body. The high-voltage
battery, along with other vehicle components,
can be damaged severely if the high-voltage
battery is exposed to open water especially for
a longer time. However, you can drive through
water on roads under certain conditions
¢ page 77, Driving through water on roads .
Failure to heed any of these requirements can
age the battery prematurely and lead to a perma
nent decrease of the high-voltage battery's ca
pacity.
(D Tips
Always make sure that the high-voltage bat
tery is not exposed to extremely low and high
temperatures as well as to water especially
for a longer time. Failure to protect and care
for the high-voltage battery can lead to
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e-tron
The gasoline engine is no longer available be
cause there is not enough fuel. Drive immediately
to a gas station.
Fuel filler door emergency release
A pp lies to ve hicles: w ith plug- in hy brid drive
You must use the emergency release to open the
fuel filler door when there is a malfunction
c::> page232 .
The tank is not vented. You can only fill a small
amount of fuel in the tank.
~ Fill only until the automatic fuel pump nozzle
turns off for the first time when it is operated
correctly.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
(D Tips
Pressure can escape if you open the tank cap
after using the emergency release. This can
create noises.
Charging
General information
A pp lies to veh icles: w ith plug -in hybrid drive
Two options are available for charging the vehi
cle:
- Charge at a public charging station with a spe
cial charging cable*
c::>page 112.
- Charge with household and industrial power
sockets using the Audi e-tron charging system
c::> page 112.
Environmental conditions when using the
charging system
-Operating temperature : -13 °F (-25 °C) to 95 °F
(+35 °C)
- Humidity:
5% to 95%, non-condensing
- 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) maximum above
sea level
110
Warnings when using the charging system
£
Surfaces can become very hot when
in direct sunlight.
&~
Incorrect use increases the risk of
electric shock.
~"-
Do not use any extensions cords or
cable reels.
~
Do not use any travel adapters.
~~
Do not use any power strips.
~~~
Do not use any charging cables with
damage to the electronics or the
connecting wires.
.&_ WARNING
-
Sockets that are installed incorrectly can
cause electric shock or fire when charging the
high-voltage battery using the vehicle charg
ing connection.
- Installation and setup of the household con
nection for the Audi e-tron charging system
may only be performed by a qualified elec
trician. The qualified electrician is thereby
fully responsible for adhering to applicable
standards and regulations.
- Make sure that the selected charging con nection is suitable for drawing 16 amps .
- Make sure that the
110 volt socket is
grounded and shielded from water.
- Always check the fuse for the GFI outlet be
fore connecting the charge cable.
- Never use a damaged GFI outlet.
- Read and follow the safety precautions in
the Audi charging dock* assembly instruc
tions.
.&_ WARNING
If you are not familiar with the socket or the
e lectrical installation or it has not been
checked by qualified experts, never use it for
charging. Even very low charging currents can
cause ser ious damage and in particular fires if
the socket or electrical installation is in bad
condition. If necessary, get expert assistance
~
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ist.
A WARNING
Incorrect handling of the connector contacts
can cause e lectric shock or fire.
- Do not touch the contacts on the vehicle charging port and on the Audi e-tron charg
ing system .
- Do not insert any objects in the vehicle charg ing port or in the Audi e-tron charging
system .
- Protect the sockets and connectors against
any moisture, water and other flu ids.
A WARNING
Using a damaged or incorrect charging cable
or a damaged or incorrect socket, using the
Audi e-tron charg ing system incorrectly or
disregarding the safety precaut ions could
cause sho rt circu iting, e lectric shoc k, exp lo
sions , fires or burns.
- Do not use the Audi e-t ron c ha rging system
if it is damaged and/or dirty . Check the ca
ble and connector for damage and dirt be
f ore using .
- T he Aud i e-tron charg ing system must only
be connected to sockets that a re insta lled
correctly and that are not damaged as we ll
as to electr ica l installations that have no
faults.
- Do not use any extension cords, cable reels,
power str ips or (travel) adapters.
- Disconnect the Audi e-tron charging system
from the power network during a thunder
storm .
- Do not modify or repair any electrical com
ponents.
- Never immerse the Audi e-tron charging system and connectors in water.
- The Aud i e-tron charging system must only
be cleaned when the control unit is com
pletely disconnected from the power supply
and from the veh icle. Use a dry towel to
clean.
- I f a 110 volt socket is used for charging, on
ly connect one veh icle at a time to the same
e-tron
circuit. Use a different circuit if an add ition
al vehicle needs to be charged at the same
time. Note the maximum permitted current
draw for the c ircuit. Contact a qualified elec
tr ical technician if there is any doubt.
A WARNING '"---
The components in the Audi e-tron charg ing
system can trigger sparks which can cause
flammable or explos ive f umes to ignite .
- To reduce the r isk of explosions, espec ially
in garages, make sure the contro l unit is at
least 19 in ches (SO cm) above the floo r
when charging.
- Do not use the Aud i e-tron charg ing system
in areas at risk for exp losions .
- The Audi e-tron charging system is only suit
ab le for use on Aud i vehicles and veh icles
within the Volkswagen Group. Using the de
vice on vehicles made by another manufac
turer is not authorized .
CI) Note
Make sure that you a lways use the s uitable
power plug prov ided with the A udi e-tron
charging system for the corresponding mar
ket. Contact an authorized Audi dealer o r au
thorized Audi Service Facility for more infor mation.
(D Tips
- For an uninterrupted charging process, we
recommend only charging using sockets
that are connected to a separately protect ed circuit.
- Us ing NEMA sockets w ith a current rat ing of
at least 30 A or industrial sockets in accord
ance with IEC 60309 when charging is rec
ommended .
- When charging the high-voltage battery us
ing household/ industrial sockets, the elec
trical installation can be used at full capaci
ty. Having a qualified electrician regularly inspect the electrical installations that are
used for charg ing is recommended.
111
e-tron
-The vehicle radio and TV systems may have
limited reception when charging the vehi
cle.
Charging at public
charging stations
App lies to vehicles: w ith plug-in hybrid drive and special
charging cable
Use the charging cable supplied at the public
charging station for charging. Contact an author
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili
ty for more information.
• Read the operating instructions at the charging
station to charge the battery.
• Unl ock the vehicle if necessary¢
page 35.
• Make sure that the selector lever is in the P po
sition and drive ready mode is switched off .
• Turn the lock until it is vertical to open the
cov
er on the charging unit r:;> page 115, fig . 108.
• Slide the cover carefully to the side if necessa
ry .
• Remove the lock on the charging port
¢page 115, fig. 109 .
• Remove the cap from the charging cable if nec
essary .
• Connect the cable to the veh icle charging port .
• If a charg ing timer is not set, the charging
process will start automatically depending on
the charging station¢
page 116, Setting the
charging timer.
• The vehicle operating status is indicated by the
status LED@¢
table on page 119.
• Refer to the information under¢ page 117,
After charging
or ¢ page 121 , Vehicle charg
ing connector emergency release.
@ Tips
-It is not possible to charge using the charg
ing timer at some charging stations .
- You can use your Audi e-tron charging sys
tem if there is a household or industrial con
nection availab le at the charging station.
112
Charging the battery
with the Audi e-tron
charging system
Charging system overview
Applies to vehicles : with plug -in hybrid drive
Fig. 100 Audi e-tron c harging system overview
@ Power cable
@ Power plug (for industrial sockets)
© Power plug (for household sockets)
@ Control unit
© Veh icle charging connector (connector for the
vehicle)
® Vehicle cable
The power cable @ is plugged into the upper end
of the control unit and the vehicle cable ® is
plugged into the lower end of the contro l unit @.
(D Note
The charging system can be operated within a
temperature range of-13 °F (-25 °C) to 95 °F
(+35 °C). Note the following information:
- Protect the charg ing system against any
strain, such as being run over, falling, pull
ing, bend ing and crushing.
- Runn ing the control un it in the charging
dock* during operation is recommended
¢ page 114. Refer to the "cha rging dock"
chapter
¢page 114.
-Do not immerse the control unit in water or
cover with snow or ice.
a) Tips
-Always place the Aud i e-tron charging sys
tem on a secure surface when charging.
e-tron
You can release cover using the emergency re
lease.
.,. Turn the lock to the horizontal position .
.,. Unlock the veh icle.
.,. Open the hood
r:!;> page 23 7, Opening the hood .
.,. Carefully pull on the knob @until there is re-
s istance .
.,. Turn the lock to the vertical position
r:!;> page 115, fig . 108 .
.,. Slide the cover carefully to the side if necessa
ry .
Climate control
Description
Applies to vehicles: with plug- in hybrid drive
Your vehicle has either auxiliary heating or auxili
ary heat ing/ air conditioning*.
The auxiliary heating or the auxi liary heating/ air
conditioning* switches on depending on the out
side temperature and the temperature set on the
climate control unit .
Switching on/off immediately
.,. You can switch the climate control on and off
immediately in the MMI*
¢page 123. Or
.,. Switch off the blower with the~ button
¢ page 72, fig. 72.
Setting the timer
.,. You can set the time when your vehicle should
reach the desired temperature. Your set tem
perature and the outside temperature deter
mine when the climate control switches on.
@ Tips
- The temperature that the climate control
system adjusts to depends on the last tem
perature you set in the climate control unit
c;;,page 72.
-The climate control system does not auto
matically switch on or off earlier if the vehi
cle battery charge or the fuel level is too low.
122
· Auxiliary climate control
Applies to vehicles: with plug-in hybrid drive without auxiliary
hea ting
The aux iliary climate control controls the tem
perature in the vehicle inter ior ent irely with elec
tric power. It turns on only if the high-voltage
battery charge level is sufficient and there is
enough fuel in the tank.
Auxiliary heating / air conditioning
Applies to vehicles: with plug-in hybrid drive and auxiliary
heat ing
The aux iliary heating/ air conditioning controls
the temperature in the vehicle interior if the
high-voltage battery charge level is suff icient and
there is eno ugh fuel in the tank.
The
.ill. symbo l blinks in the climate contro l unit
whe n auxiliary heating is switched on.
When the auxiliary heating/ air conditioning t im
er is programmed, the Ill symbol stays turned on
until the departure t ime is reached.
& WARNING
- To reduce the risk of poisoning, the auxiliary
heating/ air conditioning must not run in
confined spaces .
- To redu ce the risk of fires, the auxiliary
heating/ air conditioning must not run
when refueling.
- Due to the high temperatures that result
from operating the auxiliary heating/ air
conditioning, the vehicle must be parked in
a way so that the hot exhaust can escape at
the bottom of the engine cover without ob
struction. The exhaust must not come into
direct contact with highly flammab le mate
r ials.
(D Tips
Water vapor can build up near the engine
compartment when outside temperatures are low. This is a natural phenomenon and is no
cause for concern.
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-For safety reasons, active lane assist must
not be used when there are poor road and/
or weather conditions such as slippery
roads, fog, gravel, heavy ra in, snow and the
potent ial for hydroplaning . Using active lane
assist under these conditions may increase
the risk of a c rash.
Switching on and off
Applies to vehicles: with Audi active lane assist
•
F ig. 1 26 Turn s ig n al leve r: button for active lane as sist
F ig. 127 W ind sh ield: c ame ra win dow fo r act ive lane ass is t
~ Press the c::> fig. 126 button to sw itch the sys
tem on and off . The . or. indicator light in
the instrument cluster turns on o r off .
Ind icator light s
• Read y :
the indicator light turns on when the
system is ready for use. The system can now be
operated .
• Not ready: the indicator light turns on if the
system is switched on but is inoperable. Th is may
be due to the following reasons:
- There is no lane bo undary line .
- The relevant lane marker lines are not de tected
(fo r example, markings in a const ruction zone
A ss ist
or because they are obstructed by snow, dirt,
water or lighting).
- The vehicle speed is be low the activation speed
of approximate ly 40 mph (65 km/h) (the speed
may va ry depend ing on your country).
- The lane is narrowe r th an approximately 8
ft
(2.5 m) or wider than approximate ly 18 ft
(5.5 m) .
- The curve is too narrow .
- The d river's hands are not on the steering
wheel.
(0 Tips
- Make sure the camera's field o f view
c::> fig . 12 7 is not obs tructed by st ickers or
anything e lse. For informa tion on clea nin g,
refer to
c::> page 2 7 4.
- Market-specifi c: in certain co untries: if the
system is switched on, it will remain opera
ble each time the ig nitio n is switched on .
Lane assist display in the instrument
cluster
Applies to vehicles: with Audi act ive lane assist
Fig. 1 28 Ins trumen t cl uster: monoc hrom e disp lay
F ig . 12 9 Instru men t cl uster: multicolor display
143
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You should only switch sport mode on or switch ESC/ASR off if your driving abilities
and road conditions permi t.
- The stabilization function is limited when
sport mode is sw itched on . T he driving
w heels could spi n and the veh icle cou ld
swerve, espec ially on s lick o r sli ppery road
s u rf aces.
- T here is no veh icle stabilization when ESC/
ASR a re swi tched off.
(D Tips
- ESC/ASR cannot be switched off or sport
mode cannot be sw itched on if t he cru ise
contro l system* or the adaptive c ruise con
tro l* is sw itched on .
- Mal functions in the Audi magnet ic r ide may
make it imposs ible to sw itch the ESC/ASR
off or to switc h sport mode on .
Brakes
New brake pads
New brake pads do not ac hieve the ir full braking
effect during the first 250 mi (400 km) . They
must be "b roken in " fi rs t . However, you can com
pensate for the slightly reduced bra king fo rce by
p ressing firmly o n the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
b raking during the break -in period .
Wear
Brake pad
wear depends largely on the way th e
ve hicl e is driven a nd on operat ing cond itions.
This is especially true if you are d riving frequently
in the c ity and on c urves o r wi th a sporty driving
style.
Operating noise
Noises may occur when bra kin g depend ing on the
speed , braking force and ou ts ide cond it ions s uch
as tempe rature and humidity .
Effect of water and road salt
In certain situations, for example after dr iving
through water, in heavy ra in, after ove rnig ht con
densat ion or after washing your car, the b raking
Intellig ent Technology
effect ca n be reduced by moist ure o r ice on the
bra ke rotors and brake pads . The brakes must be
"d ried" first with a few caref ul brake applica
tions.
At h igher speeds and w ith the wi ndshield wipe rs
tu rned on, the brake pads press against the brake
roto rs fo r a short amount of time. This action
wh ich is not felt by the dr iver happens at reg ular
interva ls and facilit ates a be tter reaction t ime for
the brakes in wet weather .
The braking effect can a lso be reduced if yo u are
driv ing on salted roads and yo u do not app ly the
brakes for long per iods of time . The layer of salt
o n the brake rotors and pads must be wor n off
first whe n the bra kes are applied .
Corrosion
Leaving the vehicle pa rked for long periods of
time, low mileage and avoiding heavy braking
can contribute to corros ion on the brake rotors
and dirty brake pads .
If you usua lly avoid heavy brak ing or if there is
corrosion present, occasiona l heavy brak ing at
high speeds is recommended to clean the b rake
roto rs and pads<=>,& .
Brake system malfunction
if you notice that t he b rake pedal travel has sud
denly gotten larger, t hen a b rake c ircuit may have
failed. Drive to an author iz ed Audi dealer or au
thorized Audi Serv ice Facility immediately to have
t h e problem corrected. On the way there, drive
with red uced speed and keep in mind that a long
bra king d ista nce and increased pressu re on the
br ak e pedal w ill be necessary.
Low brake fluid level
When the brake fluid level is low, malfunctions in
the brake system may occur . The b rake fluid level
i s elec tronica lly monito red .
Brake booster
The brake booster amp lifies the press ure you ap
ply to the brake pedal. It on ly operates wh ile the
engine is run ning o r when the ignition is switched
on (p lug-i n hyb rid dr ive*) . .,.
161