Audi’s most affordable EV revealed with over 400 miles of range [Video]

This is car news, not a home energy story, but here's the gist. Audi has revealed its most affordable electric vehicle, a revived version of the A2 hatchback from the early 2000s, now called the A2 e-tron. It's set to debut this fall with prices starting at €38,200 (about $44,000) in Germany, and a driving range up to 403 miles on the WLTP test cycle used in Europe, which tends to report higher numbers than the EPA range ratings used in the US. It will come with a choice of battery sizes (50, 58, and 79 kWh) and four power levels, from 125 kW up to 240 kW.

The car takes styling cues from the original A2, an efficient, lightweight model Audi sold from 2000 to 2005. Audi's CEO says the new EV is meant to make entry into the brand "easier and more relevant than ever," and positions it well below the Q4 e-tron, which starts around €47,500 ($54,000).

There's no word yet on whether the A2 e-tron will be sold in the US. For homeowners, this doesn't affect any home energy upgrade or rebate program — it's simply a look at a new lower-cost EV option that may eventually give buyers in Europe, and possibly elsewhere, another choice for an efficient electric car.