Ministry of Environment Confirms "E-Tron 55 Charging Range Error"... Audi Expresses "Regret"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporters Son Seon-hee and Lee Ki-min] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 25th that it has confirmed an error in the low-temperature charging driving range of Audi Volkswagen Korea's (Audi) electric vehicle 'e-tron 55'. This came after suspicions arose last February when Audi applied for driving range certification, measuring differently from domestic standards. Following this, a verification was conducted. Audi acknowledged the mistake and expressed regret.

According to the Ministry of Environment on the day, the National Institute of Environmental Research measured the low-temperature charging driving range of the e-tron 55 according to domestic test regulations from the 29th of last month to the 9th of this month. The charging driving range at room temperature (20?30℃) was confirmed to be 318 km, 3.6% higher than the 307 km submitted by Audi during the certification application. The low-temperature (-6.7℃) charging driving range was confirmed to be 236 km, 3.3% lower than the 244 km resubmitted by Audi.

However, at the expert meeting held by the National Institute of Environmental Research on the 16th, opinions converged that the deviation in driving test results (-3.3% to +3.6%) is an acceptable level when compared to the post-investigation allowable error (-5%) for fuel efficiency of internal combustion engine vehicles.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Environment decided to take preliminary action by requesting Audi to apply for a certification change for the charging driving range under the 'Atmospheric Environment Conservation Act'. Regarding this, after receiving legal advice, the opinion was that "the charging driving range of electric vehicles is difficult to consider as an emission standard subject to certification cancellation and fines, so it is difficult to impose penalties for submitting test results that differ from regulations."

Furthermore, the Ministry of Environment stated that the vehicle in question was sold with its own discount without receiving subsidies, so it is not subject to measures such as subsidy recovery.

Having identified the misapplication of regulations, Audi corrected the charging driving range data of the e-tron 55 measured according to domestic test regulations to 244 km and resubmitted it to the Ministry of Environment on December 9th last year. Audi stated, "There was a mistake, and after fact-checking, we have been consulting with the Ministry of Environment," adding, "As the related administrative procedures have been completed, we express regret regarding this matter."

Meanwhile, taking this incident as an opportunity, the Ministry of Environment plans to promote improvement measures for the overall electric vehicle certification and post-management, including establishing sanctions for incorrect or false submission of charging driving test methods and charging driving ranges.