Audi is expected to bring out the production version of the e-tron SUV sometime this year. Ahead of the debut, we now know what to expect from the electric SUV in terms of range and recharging, at least for European markets.

Early press releases said the e-tron could travel 310 miles on a single charge. Now, Audi is placing range at 248.5 miles based on the new WLTP driving cycle, an update to the NEDC test cycle. It's unclear how this rating would translate to the EPA cycle that's used here in the U.S. Audi confirmed the floor-mounted battery can store an impressive 95 kilowatt-hours of energy.

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The e-tron will be the first vehicle on the market capable of charging at stations with up to 150 kilowatts. An advanced thermal management system in the battery enables the SUV to safely charge up at this level at high-power charging stations that use the European standard Combined Charging System. Audi says it takes less than 30 minutes to juice up. There will be nearly 200 of these compatible stations with six charging points each by the end of 2018, with more to come in the following years.

The e-tron can recharge at AC and DC stations in public areas, or at home with a 230-volt household outlet or a 400-volt three-phase outlet, which takes 8.5 hours. An optional connect charging system will charge your car according to your home's energy usage and can double the charging power to 22 kilowatts.

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Perhaps to draw attention to the strides it has taken to recharge EVs quickly, Audi placed its e-tron prototype in a Faraday cage at the Siemens high-voltage test bay in Berlin. Here, where experts are researching the possibility of lightning-fast charging, Audi ran a test on its e-tron. In the middle of an impulse voltage generator the size of a house, the Audi e-prototype is targeted with a flashover voltage, creating a light show and a crackle over the roof measuring 82 feet tall.

In addition to the e-tron SUV, Audi also plans on introducing an E-tron Sportback in 2019. Both models will be built in Brussels, Belgium.

Source: Audi