![[EV 팩트체크] Audi e-tron electric car mileage controversy, finding out the facts](https://image.zdnet.co.kr/2020/07/17/a247b7df350a871eab6ab1a388c30eb2.jpg "[EV 팩트체크] Audi e-tron electric car mileage controversy, finding out the facts")
The controversy over the method of measuring the distance available for driving’e-tron’, a pure electric vehicle that Audi launched in Korea in July last year, is hot.
Some media reported that the Audi e-tron has been certified to drive a fool since the 18th. Many electric vehicles launched in Korea have a difference in mileage of several tens of kilometers between room temperature (average over 20 degrees) and low temperature (below zero 6.7 degrees Celsius), but Audi e-tron is only about 1 km.
According to the Ministry of Environment’s integrated low-emission vehicle website, the Audi e-tron 55 quattro with a 95.3kWh battery has been certified for 307km at room temperature and 306km at low temperature. Why did this measurement method come out?
Audi Volkswagen Korea sent modified mileage to the Ministry of Environment last December
Audi Volkswagen Korea used the US mileage measurement method before the e-tron launch.
According to the automobile industry, the US measurement method is mainly used for gasoline certification, and the European measurement method is used for diesel. It is known that it is not known which local standards should be followed for measuring electric vehicle mileage. For this reason, Audi headquarters gave guidelines to measure the mileage using the US measurement method. This is because Germany did not have a separate standard for measuring the low-temperature mileage of electric vehicles.
In the United States, when measuring low-temperature mileage, it is known that only heaters with a defrost function are operated and mileage is measured.
In contrast, the standard for measuring the low-temperature mileage of electric vehicles in Korea was different from that of the United States. According to the policy of the Ministry of Environment, in Korea, the low-temperature mileage is measured with all heater functions activated.
Audi Volkswagen Korea found that the e-tron 55 quattro mileage measurement method submitted in advance was wrong in mid-December last year. Later, at the same time, the self-corrected mileage measurement result was submitted to the Transportation Environment Research Institute of the National Institute of Environmental Sciences under the Ministry of Environment.
An official from Audi Volkswagen Korea admitted, “It is our fault to measure the low-temperature mileage method in Korea because we did not recognize it.”
The Ministry of Environment did not inform the public about the result of the e-tron mileage correction received from Audi Volkswagen Korea in time. Still, on the low-emission vehicle integrated website, the e-tron 55 quattro as of last July’s release at room temperature and low temperature is indicated.
Afterwards, when some domestic media reported on the’bad driving certification’ of Audi e-Tron 55 Quattro, and controversy grew, Audi Volkswagen Korea side showed an embarrassing position.
The Transportation Environment Research Institute and the Ministry of Environment did not answer the question of how long the low-temperature mileage of the modified e-tron 55 quattro would be. Rather, it is the position that Audi Volkswagen Korea will be investigated for violations of the Air Conservation Act, and the mileage will be verified through actual investigations. According to the industry, the low-temperature mileage of the modified e-tron 55 quattro is 80% of the previous measurement.
Ministry of Environment to break the practice and demonstrate mileage directly… Equity controversy seems to grow
In Korea, automobile manufacturers are measuring the mileage of electric vehicles based on the laws set by the government. The Transportation Environment Research Institute has stated that there is no particular problem because there is confidence in the mileage of electric vehicles measured by automobile manufacturers.
However, as the controversy over the mileage of the Audi e-tron 55 quattro spreads, the Ministry of Environment announced that it would break the convention and directly test the mileage of the electric vehicle. The Audi e-tron 55 Quattro is the first vehicle that the Ministry of Environment has said it will self-demonstrate.
The position of the Ministry of Environment is expected to create further controversy in the future. If some companies evaluate that there is a problem with the Ministry of Environment guidelines, there is a possibility that not only e-tron but also all electric vehicle mileage measurement methods will be reapplied. If the total electric vehicle mileage is not verified and a specific company’s electric vehicle mileage is verified, it could lead to a controversy over equity.
In response, an official from the Ministry of Environment said, “Audi Volkswagen Korea has agreed on its own mileage measurement policy.” There was no specific answer to the equity controversy.
The Audi e-tron 55 Quattro was on the list of subsidies for electric vehicles in September last year. It is a certification received two months after it was launched in Korea. As of last year, Audi e-tron’s government subsidy amounted to 6.3 million won.
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However, the Audi e-tron 55 quattro was sold out after two months of launch. According to the Kaizu-U Data Institute, a total of 595 vehicles were sold, including 394 vehicles in July and 177 vehicles in August. This is the largest domestic volume prepared by Audi Korea. Because of this, all e-tron 55 quattro customers in Korea will not be able to receive government subsidies this year.
The Audi e-tron 55 quattro is expected to be removed from the list of subsidies for electric vehicles this year. This is because the government has introduced a plan not to pay subsidies for electric cars with sales exceeding 90 million won, excluding subsidies from this year. The domestic selling price of the vehicle as of last year was 117 million won.