Audi e-Tron owners, 2019-20 model years, receive a free software update that will add about 12 miles or 20 kilometers to its total range. The update also optimized the thermal management along with electrical losses in the motor. It is after three years that the company rolled out an update to improve the mileage efficiency of its first-ever EV, and for starters, the overall mileage was not that great if compared to the likes of the Jaguar I-Pace, and the Tesla Model Y.
About 34,000 units of the e-Tron 55 Quattro models will be eligible for the software update, and it will be done free of cost after you drive it to your nearest Audi dealership. That's the catch, as this update can't be done over the air. And, for now, it's only available in the European market. As for Audi America, there are no confirmed dates for the update but we believe that it will be pushed out very soon. According to Audi, the software can squeeze an extra 12.4 miles or 20 kilometers in the WLTP test which now stands at a total of 274 miles. Usable battery capacity is bumped up to 86kWh and with that comes improved thermal management.
One of the major concerns was related to the Quattro system. The company claims that the update disconnects the electric motor on the front axle when not in use, and it will come to life when full power is needed.
