German automotive giant, Audi, has announced plans to launch 20 units of its newest vehicle into the streets of Munich. The 20 new A1 e-trons will hit the Munich pavement for trialing purposes under the supervision of Audi AG and the Technical University of Munich.

The plug-in electric model, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, has a 50 km range, extended further to 116km when the small petrol rotary engine is engaged. The output is around 78kW, while the top speed is around the 130km/hr mark. The vehicle is reportedly a great ‘city’ car.

The 20-vehicle trial will be accommodated by 200 electric charging stations, which will be set up by a German government-funded initiative.

Audi hopes that the data collected from the trial, which is scheduled for 2011, will offer a clearer indication of the infrastructure demands, convenience and workability.