Audi unveils a modern 'EV charging lounge' spend the waiting time elegantly?　Scheduled to start trial operation in Germany

High-end charging infrastructure

Charging hubs to open in Germany

Audi opens its first EV charging hub. Pioneering a lounge-style fast-charging network. [Photo] Charging time is also premium? [See photos of Audi's charging hub and EV] (123 photos) The facility is adjacent to the exhibition hall in Nuremberg, Germany, and is scheduled to start trial operation on December 23rd. It will show the direction of the design and function of Audi's charging hub. Aimed at meeting "customer expectations for a premium charging experience", drivers can wait to finish charging in a 200-square-meter lounge. Audi assumes that each person will spend about 20 to 30 minutes. Ralf Holmig, head of Audi's charging hub project, said he would like to use the facility "to test a flexible, premium-oriented fast-charging infrastructure in urban spaces." "We believe that customers' EVs don't necessarily wake up with a full charge, and we are also looking at increasing charging demand in the future," Audi said. It is said that it is made of a "flexible container cube" that can be assembled and disassembled in a few days. Each cube is equipped with two fast chargers and repurposed lithium-ion batteries from disused prototypes to reduce costs and resource usage. The method of supplying power with such devices also saves planning and construction time as there is no need to connect each charger to the grid or install large transformers. . The facility, which opens on the 23rd, can store about 2.45 MWh (2450 kWh) of electricity. Power is mainly provided by 200 kW of 'green power' from the grid and 30 kW from solar panels installed on the roof. Six chargers are installed, and it is possible to charge at a maximum speed of 320 kW. Audi says that up to 80 vehicles can use the facility per day.

Felix Page (Author) Hisaya Hayashi (Translation)