The concept calls for high-power charging (HPC) stations that can be reserved in advance to provide a high level of planing security. A lounge area nearby will provide an attractive, premium place to pass the time.
The brand plans to roll out over 20 fully electric models by 2025; their success depends on the availability of charging infrastructure. Its answer to that is the charging hub.
Cubes form the foundation of the Audi charging hub. The flexible container cubes fulfill various technical requirements and house charging pillars as well as used lithium ion batteries for energy storage.
The use of second life modules from disassembled development vehicles doesn’t just give the battery cells a new, sustainable purpose – it also provides a great benefit in their suitability as ancillary storage for direct current. This makes complex infrastructure with high-voltage lines and expensive transformers unnecessary.
Thanks to this huge interim storage – roughly 2.45 Mwh – the six charging stations, which have a charging output of up to 300 kW, only need a standard 400 volt high-voltage hook-up.
That makes output starting at 11 kW per cube sufficient to be able to fill the three storage modules with a total capacity of 2.45 MWh continually and to charge them overnight.
Photovoltaic modules on the roof provide additional green energy. This not only makes it easier to selection possible locations, it also reduces the planning time required and the costs while also saving resources. In addition, the modular concept provides maximum flexibility and scalability.
The hub can be transported, installed and adapted to the individual location quickly – largely independent of local network capacities.
“A flexible high-performing HPC charging park like this does not require much from the local electricity grid and uses a sustainable battery concept," said Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development of Audi AG.
"Our customers benefit in numerous ways: from the ability to make exclusive reservations, a lounge area and short waiting times thanks to high-performance charging. This is consistent with the premium concept.”
It takes less than 30 minutes, or the time needed for a coffee break, to charge an electric Audi.
The Audi e-tron GT, for example, reaches a charging capacity of up to 270 kW. That allows it to charge enough energy for up to 100 kilometers in about five minutes, with a charge from 5 to 80 percent taking roughly 23 minutes under ideal conditions.
The plan for the pilot phase also calls for drivers of other brand cars to be able to use charging stations that are open and not reserved as well as parts of the lounge.
