Audi e-tron SUV EV coming 2019

Can you imagine a world where half of all Audi vehicles sold don't burn petrol or diesel? It's going to happen, and perhaps sooner than you think.

"The Audi e-tron [SUV] comes next year globally and potentially for us in Australia in 2019," Anna Burgdorf, Audi Australia's communications director told motoring.com.au.

The Audi e-tron is Ingolstadt's first all-electric large SUV, roughly the size of a Q7, and will be launched in Europe in 2018 and to rival the likes of the Tesla Model X.

"Australia will have to be on board, there won't be an alternative," stated Burgdorf. "There isn't, we already know that. We can't continue to burn fossil fuels. We need to get on board and embrace EVs."

The Audi etron battery electric vehicle will have a range of more than 500km according to Audi's global chief Rupert Stadler, who says Audi will "make the electric car into a 'must-have' in the coming decade”.

Despite the recent announcement of a $100 million financing scheme for low emission vehicles and EVs in this country, Burgdorf conceded the lack of charging infrastructure and low demand for EVs in Australia made them a tough sell, but argued "you have to start somewhere".

"Yeah, it’s frustrating there isn't more infrastructure or incentives – I don't think it's about tax breaks – but potentially we could incentivise early adopters, and really taking care of people who are willing to spend more money."

Although she wouldn't be drawn on what special treatment or bonuses early adopters of the circa $170,000 Audi etron SUV would get – possibly a fast-charge wallbox – Burgdorf said they would be compensated.

"EVs are more expensive because of the R&D behind them, but we want to find a way to reward the people who are brave and take those steps early on," she said.

Audi Australia recognises that EV sales will be slow to begin with but Burgdorf is optimistic about the future for EVs in this country. The Australian arm of the German car company is also part of the local Electric Vehicle Council.

In the engineering labs within Audi's HQ in Ingolstadt, the company is busy developing three new e-tron EVs, all of which have been earmarked for Australia. After the e-tron SUV arrives in 2019, the e-tron Sportback will arrive followed by a small A3-sized EV in 2020 and 2021 respectively, roughly a year after their European market launches.

"I think cars like the e-tron [SUV] and e-tron sportback will be incredibly popular because they look good and the performance will be great and they have 500km on tap every time you plug it in overnight,” she said.

"I think customers will certainly embrace the technology in the next few years. Will sales be 50 per cent EV in 10 years? Probably not, but it's certainly going to happen in the longer term. You'll see more and more people buying EVs because they offer all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks of internal combustion engines."