First Look at Audi's A3 E-Tron - Wide Open Throttle Episode 23

On this episode of Wide Open Throttle, Jessi Lang continues her look at the future of electric vehicles and the largely divided public opinion on electric mobility. Then we talk with Audi representative Jeff Curry, who brings you a firsthand look at the A3 E-tron, the first full-battery electric Audi to hit US roads.

Wide Open Throttle appears every Thursday on the new Motor Trend channel.

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[MotorTrendWatch]

"Right you are. When I was interviewing Jeff, he mentioned exactly that. However, whether the sound it produces will satisfies enthusiasts remains the question..."
-Jessi

[MotorTrendWatch]

"Thank you for that!" -Jessi

[MotorTrendWatch]

"That's on par with California right now. Here's hoping prices continue to drop!" -Jessi

[mtrooper]

I wish I could frickin pay a yearly subscription to NOT see any ads on YOUTUBE!!!!

[kosinskiarek]

That's the best comment from all regarding alternative fuel subject. Let's hope that automakers will keep working on something good quick.

[kchilaka]

I am glad that Motortrend is investing in new media by putting out quality programming on youtube. The entire Motortrend lineup is putting the other car mags to shame.

[KLINGY]

THANK YOU! finally someone else understands that this battery technology needs time to be perfected and isn't exactly practical for TODAY....YET.

[Zcypot]

They should standardize a certain battery that is easy to charge, available for the masses, and fits in any car if they want electric cars to really start taking off. Batteries for cars cost too much, and they run out quickly. Being able to quickly swap in a power station if you NEED to would really help.
Ps. her voice is so soothing <3

[JanMichaelFranklin]

I think the best solution "right now" is a vehicle like the Volt that only uses a small gas motor to keep the batteries charged. A small diesel motor would be even better.

[Kahdir]

Another cool episode. Now time for a head to head of electric cars... or a hybrids vs. electric.

[TheKanigula]

are you serious ??? Jessi is the reason I watch this videos

[WesleySnipesHanson]

Im so glad premium gas in South Dakota is only $3.70 instead of $4.00

[toyotaprius]

I just have to mention to you that there's 9kWh of energy in a gallon of petrol to refraction and refine it. That's excluding the energy spend to get the oil and storing and transporting it several times.
Put that into emissions. A typical car does 150g CO2/km by burning fuel. The emissions actually spent before hand would result around 500g before the fuel is burnt.
An EV would emit 80g - 120g CO2/km if powered only by coal (+mining and transporting), but there's no additional energy spent.

[bwxmoto]

** The Los Angeles Times says that American Motors Corp. is on the verge of producing an electric car, the Amitron, to be powered by lithium batteries capable of holding 330 watt-hours per kilogram. (That's more than two times the energy density of modern lithium-ion batteries.) Backers of the Amitron said, "We don't see a major obstacle in technology. It's just a matter of time." -- 1967

[chaoticterror]

I am sooo willing to try out that Audi and would really love to be part of a similar alt-energy car's development

[Cedricmaker]

Hey! I cited the same New York Times article (Mar.24, 2012) in my study for the electric vehicles! Cheers!

[weedmastersr]

"In four of the five countries we surveyed, the Tesla electric car was less efficient and more polluting than its petrol sibling. Only in New Zealand - where the majority of electricity is produced by hydroelectric generation - was the Tesla 'greener' than the Elise. However, a New Zealand scientist recently predicted that if the New Zealand car fleet was replaced with electric cars, the country would probably need to build coal power stations to meet the increased demand."

[rbrtchng]

the difference being at a fuel station, a combustion engine can be refueled in less than 2 minutes. An electric engine takes 13 hours.

[Kavh]

Once they start mass marketing electric cars with a range over 200 miles then people will really get into it. I like that Audi stuck the TT RS rims on it instead of some ugly small rims like other car companies do to there hybrids.

[zj]

If you are complaining, I pay 5.30 per gallon at a cheap station in Vancouver, Canada, and our prices change twice daily.. Fucked up stuff...