When Audi talks about concentrating on the future of its electric vehicle lineup – it’s not joking. The brand today launched 20 pilot Audi A1 e-tron units on the roads of Munich.  Audi, E.ON, the public utility Stadtwerke München and Technische Universität München (TUM) are project partners in this fleet trial.

E.ON and SWM are in charge of expanding and maintaining the charging infrastructure in the Munich metropolitan area.

While some pilot participants received their keys last week, Audi handed over the rest of the A1 e-tron fleet to project partners and other trial participants.

Click here for more news on the Audi A1.

“Audi works relentlessly on comprehensive approaches which maximize benefits to customers. In this era of electric mobility, we will offer our customers a wide range of services which go beyond driving itself. For example, the networking of vehicles with their surroundings and with infrastructure as well as new concepts of mobility will be important,” emphasizes Franciscus van Meel, Head of Electric Mobility Strategy at Audi AG. He adds: “We want to use this fleet trial to learn more about our customers’ usage of electric cars, and their expectations in this regard. We are planning additional fleet endeavors in strategically important markets.”

The Audi A1 e-tron makes a total of 102-hp with an electric-motor and range extender engine. Top speeds can hit 80 mph with a total operating range of 155 miles. Audi says that the A1 e-tron was developed for daily driving in metropolitan areas. It averages a fuel-ecoomy of 123.80 US mpg.

Audi A1 e-tron:

- By: Omar Rana