Audi has an idea to help meet the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging and to provide a mobile solution for those who live in houses and apartments where home charging is not possible.
2.5-megawatt/hours of storage
The Audi charging hub is built around a modular cube layout, the cubes being full of recycled car batteries that are past their best for use in a vehicle, but work just fine as a static battery. The total storage capacity of the hub is a massive 2.5-megawatts/hours (Mwh). The energy flow from the batteries is already in DC direct current, so there's no need for a transformer or lots of high-tension cabling.
As many as six cars can be charged at once, at speeds of up to 300kW and the hub itself can be recharged from a 400-volt high-capacity electric connection, which Audi says will allow it to top itself up overnight. There are also solar panels on the roof to provide a little extra power during the day. The idea is that the hub can be easily packed up and transported, and can be moved to another area where it's needed, and needs little-to-no planning permission to be set up.
Premium concept
"The charging hub embodies our aspiration for the electric era and highlights Audi's commitment to 'Vorsprung durch Technik.' A flexible high-performing HPC charging park like this does not require much from the local electricity grid and uses a sustainable battery concept. 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," says Oliver Hoffmann, Member of the Board for Technical Development of Audi.
A lounge? Oh yes - it's not just a charging point. The hub also features an upstairs lounge and coffee dock, suitably trimmed out to Audi standard, which allows EV drivers to pass the half-hour or so while their car tops up. As Audi points out, its big-battery e-Tron GT sports saloon can be charged from five per cent to 80 per cent power in just 23 minutes from a charging point as fast as this, so you're realistically only going to have time for the one cup of coffee.
Other car brands can use it
The hub is currently at the design stage, and talks are underway with local authorities in Germany to set up a prototype version. "We are testing what the optimal technical solution is in a very realistic way. The focus in doing so is firmly on the needs of our customers," said Hoffmann. "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."