Audi Q8 e-tron morphed into a beastly off-road EV with a new Dakar edition
Audi took the Q8 e-tron and turned it into an all-electric off-road machine. The Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar is optimized for adventurers who “want to drive off the beaten path electrically.”
The new Dakar edition is based on a Q8 advanced 55 e-tron quattro. It includes two electric motors and a 106 kWh battery for up to 300 kW power and 664 Nm torque.
Audi says the new off-road EV can hit 0 to 100 km/hr (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds and features up to 487 km (302 mi) WLTP range.
With Grabber AT3 all-terrain tires, the electric SUV gains 31 mm (1.2″) ground clearance for tackling any terrain. The tires are better fitted for handling loose surfaces like gravel and snow. The base model has 206 mm (8.1″) ground clearance. That’s slightly lower than a Jeep Wrangler (9.5″ to 10.8″).
The vehicle gradually lowers at higher speeds to improve driving stability and range. The off-road EV drops by 15 mm (0.6″) at 52 mph, 17 mm (0.7″) at 62 mph, and 13 mm at 75 mph (0.5″).
Meet the new Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar off-road EV
With an approach angle of 20 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees, Audi says the Q8 e-tron edition Dakar is prepared to tackle “light off-road terrain.” Meanwhile, the wading depth is 11.8″ (300 mm).
Audi’s new off-road edition EV is reminiscent of the RS Q e-tron designed for the Dakar Rally with a unique raised chassis and optional decals.
The Q8 e-tron edition Dakar is available in Siam Beige metallic, Mythos Black metallic, and Magnetic Gray.
An optional projection light in the Singframe creates a light strip between the headlights. When the driver’s door is opened, added projection lamps show the words “edition Dakar” on the street.
You can also add a decal package inspired by the RS Q e-tron. However, the body color must be Mythos Black metallic, and it will be limited to 99 units.
Inside, the S line is standard. The package includes contoured sports seats, a multifunction sports steering wheel, black roof lining, stainless steel pedals, and more.
A head-up display replaces the screens, projecting info on the windshield. Audi included special MMI backgrounds, including images and coordinated lightning. The vehicle includes three scenes: desert storms, tire tracks, and a dune landscape.
The off-road Q8 e-tron comes with eight tires. Although it comes fitted with General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tires for enhanced off-road grip, it also comes with a set of 20″ wheels with a 5-V spoke design.
Audi says the Q8 e-tron edition Dakar will be available to order in the first quarter of 2024. Prices will start at around $131,000 (120,000 euros) in Germany. The off-road EV likely won’t make the trip overseas to the US.
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On today’s sunny side up episode of Quick Charge, we take a look at the latest from the world of solar power, and discuss Congressional Republicans’ plans to limit your energy independence by eliminating a critical tax credit for homeowners nearly ten years early. (!)
We’ve also got a quick review of a massive solar farm powering 200,000 homes in Indiana and the biggest solar project East of the Mississippi – both part of a record 98% of all new power generation and grid capacity introduced in 2025 coming from wind and solar. Those are jobs, those are lower utility rates, those are energy independence … so why are Congressional Republicans working to make that more expensive?
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If you want to read that EnergySage report on the state of the home solar industry, including news about battery energy storage system and V2H/V2G prices and financing trends, you can check it out for yourself, below, then let us know what you think in the comments.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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A Waymo autonomous vehicle drives along Masonic Avenue on April 11, 2022 in San Francisco, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Alphabet’s Waymo unit has received approval to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service to more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose.
In March, the company submitted a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to gain approval for its latest passenger safety plan, a key step in gaining permission to operate driverless vehicles across a broader area. On Monday, the proposed expansion was approved, allowing for Waymo’s driverless coverage to extend from San Francisco down through the Peninsula.
“We’re very excited to share that the CPUC has approved our application to operate our fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in the South Bay and nearly all of San Jose!” the company wrote in a post on X on Monday. “While this won’t change our operations in the near-term, we’re looking forward to bringing the benefits of Waymo One to more of the Bay Area in the future.”
The $5 billion Empire Wind is back in business. The Trump administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has lifted its stop-work order for Empire Wind, a major offshore wind project off the coast of New York led by Empire Offshore Wind LLC, a subsidiary of Equinor. Construction is now allowed to resume.
Equinor CEO Anders Opedal welcomed the news, saying the restart reinforces Equinor’s commitment to delivering clean energy while supporting local economies and saving thousands of jobs. He also credited a wide coalition of officials for helping get the project back on track, including Trump, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and congressional leaders like Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Dan Goldman. Opedal also thanked the Norwegian prime minister and the minister of finance for raising the issue with the US administration.
Governor Hochul said in a statement that “countless conversations with Equinor and White House officials” had taken place.
Neither the BOEM nor the Department of the Interior has issued a comment.
The Trump administration halted construction of the 54-turbine Empire Wind on April 16, but discussions between Equinor, regulators, and leaders at the federal, state, and city levels led to a reversal. That means Empire Wind can now push ahead with its goal of powering 500,000 New York homes with offshore wind energy.
“This project delivers on the energy ambitions shared by the US and New York by providing a vital new source of power to the region,” said Molly Morris, president of Equinor Wind US. She added that Empire Wind is boosting supply chain investments across the country, with activity in New York, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas, and South Carolina.
Equinor plans to reassess the project’s financials in the second quarter. The goal is still to install turbines offshore in 2025 and hit full commercial operation by 2027. The company says it will work with suppliers and regulators to minimize any delays from the month-long pause.
Empire Wind was first awarded its offshore lease in 2017 after a competitive federal process. It received its final construction green light in early 2024 following an extensive environmental review. Construction kicked off shortly after, and the project is now over 30% complete.
The US is a major market for Equinor. The Norwegian energy giant says it has invested around $60 billion in US energy projects since the early 2000s, more recently in low-carbon solutions, critical minerals, and renewables. Empire Wind is one of its flagship projects in the US.
Read more: Trump admin halts $5 billion NY offshore wind project mid-build
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
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