We spent a day with Audi, between Munich, Gaimersheim, and Nuremberg. On the program: a visit to the brand’s battery test center, followed by the Audi Charging Hub. The opportunity to learn more about the manufacturer’s in-house technology, followed by the concept of a comfortable charging station.
Direction Munich, to discover the electric charging station with integrated premium lounge: the Audi Charging Hub. But before, the manufacturer offers us a small foray into its battery test center in Gaimersheim. Let’s go for a “TechDay Charging Experience. “, in the company of the brand’s electric models so as not to spoil anything…
The electric experience according to Audi
Before starting our program for the day, Audi welcomes us to its Zentrum in Munich. The opportunity to remind us of some essential points related to the electrified ambitions of the brand. You know it as well as we do: driving electric means optimizing our journeys in every way. Routes, charging times, as well as stations and charging stations must be intelligently calculated to drive serenely. Unsurprisingly, it’s still electric range that worries motorists, and Audi wants to make this “range anxiety” obsolete. This by providing an optimal route thanks to the precise and regular calculation of the real autonomy. The car is obviously based on the history of consumption as well as driving data in order to maximize this autonomy. Apart from his vehicle, the manufacturer encourages to take certain good habits, always in this sense.
As a reminder, here are the main factors that have an impact on the energy consumption of electric batteries:
- Vitesse
- Battery temperature
- Outdoor temperatures and conditions
- Vehicle configuration and loading
- Electrical equipment
- Driving style
Including navigation systems, they extend to topography, road type, and speed limits. Without forgetting the predictive thermal management of the batteries. Audi therefore encourages motorists to take advantage of all the tools available to them. For example, using voice command navigation features to minimize electrical interactions. This also involves using the application on a smartphone or tablet to define routes and settings without using the vehicle. In the future, cars could detect the profile of the driver behind the wheel, in order to display his history and adapt according to it, always with the aim of maximizing the real autonomy.
Read also
Porsche wants Superchargers with integrated Lounge
Gaimersheim: homemade batteries from A to Z
In Gaimersheim, the engineers give us a short course on how lithium-ion batteries work and what it entails. A little memory refresh is always good to take! In a battery, there are modules, and in these modules, cells. It is inside that the whole process of charging and discharging takes place. During recharging, a graphite anode receives the lithium ions. Graphite changes color depending on its state of charge. Black when discharged, red half charged, golden fully charged. Ideally, the pads would turn fully gold, but unfortunately they don’t charge evenly enough. This would require the electrode to be very thin, but here it is: its recharging capacity would then be negligible. Everything therefore lies in the balance between the energy density and the admissible charging speed.
The advantage is that Audi manages the development of its batteries in-house, from start to finish. The engineers at the Batterie Technikum in Gaimersheim design the prototypes, model and then test the batteries. Tests and checks start four years before production, which allows various parameters to be adjusted as needed. During this time, the batteries are in test chambers between -30 and +60°C. They are subjected to simulations to observe their behavior for up to 15 years and 300,000 km. Several hundred cells are tested. These different simulations make it possible to optimize the management of the whole over the entire life of the vehicle. To finish with a few figures, the Gaimersheim battery test center is: 1,700 m² dedicated to assembly, 300 m² for tests and analyses, and 2,400 m² for logistics. That’s a total of 4,400 m² dedicated to batteries!
Audi Charging Hub: mobile charging stations
And modular! For the second part of the day, head to Nuremberg to discover the new Audi Charging Hub concept. A charging station that also serves as a premium lounge here. The Charging Hub is a real modular “construction kit”, made up of different elements to be assembled. All without digging into or altering the surface it sits on. An important detail that allows Audi to deploy its Charging Hub in record time: no building permit strictly speaking, but a simple authorization obtained in 5 weeks, followed by a short month for complete assembly. The Nuremberg pilot project brings together two levels: 6 charging stations at the bottom, a premium lounge at the top. The energy comes from batteries taken from Audi test vehicles, which are ideal for this second-life use. These are smartly stored in large ‘Powercubes’, and can easily be replaced if something goes wrong.
Operation is simple: Audi customers book a 45-minute charging slot. Each terminal location (320 kW) is equipped with an automatic barrier, which ensures the availability of the space. During this time, the customer can take advantage of a reception room with a “lounge” atmosphere upstairs. Armchairs, distributors, sockets, workspaces… There is plenty to take advantage of the 45 minutes ahead of us. Modular design obliges, the next Audi Charging Hub will be able to do without the reception lounge. The locations are strategic: urban environment and close to residential areas. Enough to respond to motorists who do not necessarily have the possibility of recharging at home, as you will have understood. The Hub will therefore be able to adjust the number of terminals available depending on its location, for example. At the moment, 60% of customers go there more than once a week, and all appreciate this practical concept.
The Audi Charging Hub in Nuremberg in a few figures
The next Audi Charging Hub project will be launched in Zurich, followed by Salzburg and Berlin. With 8 additional stations by 2024, a real premium charging network is available to motorists. Of course, the station will be open to all electrified drivers, not just Audi drivers! Finally, here is the Nuremberg station in a few figures.
- Pilot project completed in 11 months
- Energy capacity of 2.45 MWh
- What to charge 26 Audi e-tron 55
- Surface totale : 700 m²
- Charging station: 400 m²
- Lounge reception area: 200 m²
- 6 fast charging stations up to 320 kW3
- 3,600 loads since opening
- i.e. 24 charges per day on average
- Installation time: 1 month
The Zurich station will be simpler, that is to say without a premium lounge. It will offer 4 charging points, for a total of 1.05 MWh and a surface area of 280 m². All installed in just 2 weeks! All that remains is to wait for the arrival of the Audi Charging Hub in France.
Read also
Audi e-tron GT 60 quattro test: emission-free grand touring
We spent a day with Audi, between Munich, Gaimersheim, and Nuremberg. On the program: a visit to the brand’s battery test center, followed by the Audi Charging Hub. The opportunity to learn more about the manufacturer’s in-house technology, followed by the concept of a comfortable charging station.
Direction Munich, to discover the electric charging station with integrated premium lounge: the Audi Charging Hub. But before, the manufacturer offers us a small foray into its battery test center in Gaimersheim. Let’s go for a “TechDay Charging Experience. “, in the company of the brand’s electric models so as not to spoil anything…
The electric experience according to Audi
Before starting our program for the day, Audi welcomes us to its Zentrum in Munich. The opportunity to remind us of some essential points related to the electrified ambitions of the brand. You know it as well as we do: driving electric means optimizing our journeys in every way. Routes, charging times, as well as stations and charging stations must be intelligently calculated to drive serenely. Unsurprisingly, it’s still electric range that worries motorists, and Audi wants to make this “range anxiety” obsolete. This by providing an optimal route thanks to the precise and regular calculation of the real autonomy. The car is obviously based on the history of consumption as well as driving data in order to maximize this autonomy. Apart from his vehicle, the manufacturer encourages to take certain good habits, always in this sense.
As a reminder, here are the main factors that have an impact on the energy consumption of electric batteries:
- Vitesse
- Battery temperature
- Outdoor temperatures and conditions
- Vehicle configuration and loading
- Electrical equipment
- Driving style
Including navigation systems, they extend to topography, road type, and speed limits. Without forgetting the predictive thermal management of the batteries. Audi therefore encourages motorists to take advantage of all the tools available to them. For example, using voice command navigation features to minimize electrical interactions. This also involves using the application on a smartphone or tablet to define routes and settings without using the vehicle. In the future, cars could detect the profile of the driver behind the wheel, in order to display his history and adapt according to it, always with the aim of maximizing the real autonomy.
Read also
Porsche wants Superchargers with integrated Lounge
Gaimersheim: homemade batteries from A to Z
In Gaimersheim, the engineers give us a short course on how lithium-ion batteries work and what it entails. A little memory refresh is always good to take! In a battery, there are modules, and in these modules, cells. It is inside that the whole process of charging and discharging takes place. During recharging, a graphite anode receives the lithium ions. Graphite changes color depending on its state of charge. Black when discharged, red half charged, golden fully charged. Ideally, the pads would turn fully gold, but unfortunately they don’t charge evenly enough. This would require the electrode to be very thin, but here it is: its recharging capacity would then be negligible. Everything therefore lies in the balance between the energy density and the admissible charging speed.
The advantage is that Audi manages the development of its batteries in-house, from start to finish. The engineers at the Batterie Technikum in Gaimersheim design the prototypes, model and then test the batteries. Tests and checks start four years before production, which allows various parameters to be adjusted as needed. During this time, the batteries are in test chambers between -30 and +60°C. They are subjected to simulations to observe their behavior for up to 15 years and 300,000 km. Several hundred cells are tested. These different simulations make it possible to optimize the management of the whole over the entire life of the vehicle. To finish with a few figures, the Gaimersheim battery test center is: 1,700 m² dedicated to assembly, 300 m² for tests and analyses, and 2,400 m² for logistics. That’s a total of 4,400 m² dedicated to batteries!
Audi Charging Hub: mobile charging stations
And modular! For the second part of the day, head to Nuremberg to discover the new Audi Charging Hub concept. A charging station that also serves as a premium lounge here. The Charging Hub is a real modular “construction kit”, made up of different elements to be assembled. All without digging into or altering the surface it sits on. An important detail that allows Audi to deploy its Charging Hub in record time: no building permit strictly speaking, but a simple authorization obtained in 5 weeks, followed by a short month for complete assembly. The Nuremberg pilot project brings together two levels: 6 charging stations at the bottom, a premium lounge at the top. The energy comes from batteries taken from Audi test vehicles, which are ideal for this second-life use. These are smartly stored in large ‘Powercubes’, and can easily be replaced if something goes wrong.
Operation is simple: Audi customers book a 45-minute charging slot. Each terminal location (320 kW) is equipped with an automatic barrier, which ensures the availability of the space. During this time, the customer can take advantage of a reception room with a “lounge” atmosphere upstairs. Armchairs, distributors, sockets, workspaces… There is plenty to take advantage of the 45 minutes ahead of us. Modular design obliges, the next Audi Charging Hub will be able to do without the reception lounge. The locations are strategic: urban environment and close to residential areas. Enough to respond to motorists who do not necessarily have the possibility of recharging at home, as you will have understood. The Hub will therefore be able to adjust the number of terminals available depending on its location, for example. At the moment, 60% of customers go there more than once a week, and all appreciate this practical concept.
The Audi Charging Hub in Nuremberg in a few figures
The next Audi Charging Hub project will be launched in Zurich, followed by Salzburg and Berlin. With 8 additional stations by 2024, a real premium charging network is available to motorists. Of course, the station will be open to all electrified drivers, not just Audi drivers! Finally, here is the Nuremberg station in a few figures.
- Pilot project completed in 11 months
- Energy capacity of 2.45 MWh
- What to charge 26 Audi e-tron 55
- Surface totale : 700 m²
- Charging station: 400 m²
- Lounge reception area: 200 m²
- 6 fast charging stations up to 320 kW3
- 3,600 loads since opening
- i.e. 24 charges per day on average
- Installation time: 1 month
The Zurich station will be simpler, that is to say without a premium lounge. It will offer 4 charging points, for a total of 1.05 MWh and a surface area of 280 m². All installed in just 2 weeks! All that remains is to wait for the arrival of the Audi Charging Hub in France.
Read also
Audi e-tron GT 60 quattro test: emission-free grand touring
