Ingolstadt, January 17, 2020 – On its journey to becoming a provider of entirely CO2-neutral premium mobility, Audi is making excellent progress at its own sites. By the middle of 2022, the premium brand will equip one in ten parking spaces. All with a possibility to charge electric cars. Aka EV charging infrastructure that’s mostly accessible to the public. This independent concept is the largest charging infrastructure project. Especially carried out by a German employer.
The investment provides Audi with a head start in terms of setup and operation expertise for the hardware and software of such EV charging infrastructure concepts. All the while also allowing the company to pilot a new business area of mobility.
In addition, Audi is setting up more than 4,500 EV charging infrastructure points for battery -operated vehicles. Thereby contributing to the energy transition in private transport.
More charging points
In addition, the project manager for site charging is not only in charge of building the charging points but also the energy manager and software provider. That’s also for the comprehensive charging solution at the automotive manufacturer’s sites.
Moreover and at the main plant in Ingolstadt alone. Can you say there will be 3,500 charging points available?! Consequently in the final development.
There will also be 1,000 charging points in Neckarsulm. That’s just under 100 in Brussels and Győr.
Likewise, charging infrastructure will be built at the factory in San José Chiapa. The company already offers expansive charging capacities at the training centers at Munich Airport. The entire project has a total budget of up to EUR 100 million.
Moreover, a charging concept on this scale is unique in Germany so far. Because it requires meticulous preparation. Also a largely independent energy management and separate project team. One that has therefore been preparing and structuring the concept. Finally for the implementation since the middle of 2017.
Electric parking spaces
The fundamental decision to electrify ten percent of all parking spaces was already made a year earlier. “Such lead times are necessary because the planning and expansion of the energy supply on this scale alone takes multiple years,” explains Huber. Carrying out the setup during ongoing production at the locations is a particular challenge.
The project team is responsible for planning the entire strategy, investment, concept, and manages the setup and operation of the charging infrastructure as well as the billing of charging procedures at the Audi sites. In this context, the charging points are expanded. Consequently to suit the needs of the employees and other people using the parking lot. Subsequently, the project team designs the EV charging infrastructure and sets operating rules. Above all, they also provide a hotline and support team. Recording that complies with calibration law a nd invoicing of the charging procedures are further important aspects.
At the sites in Brussels, Ingolstadt, and Neckarsulm, charging infrastructure with a total power input of 21 megawatts. Yes folks, that is already available.
Moreover this power being used is equal to the power consumption of a small town with 14,000 inhabitants. This also includes 600 charging points with an output of up to 22 kilowatts (kW). Furthermore, 60 direct current charging points with an output between 50 and 350 kW.
Finally and by the middle of 2022, there will be 4,500 charging points. All each with an output of up to 22 kW. Then, about 50 more with an output of up to 350 kW each at the plant sites alone. A dynamic and intelligent load-management system will be controlling all power input across sites this year already, so the power connection does not need be expanded.
Connecting to the grid
In addition, there is the equipment of the three Audi Training Center locations at Munich airport. Audi’s largest individual charging park with a power input of 2.1 megawatts is connected to the grid here. In connection with the construction of the new ATC IV building, the solar power generated is used for the charging procedure in combination with a battery buffer storage device.
In conclusion, companies are working to make acquired expertise more available. I mean to other companies that need to expand their charging infrastructure. This is also the next step on the company’s journey. One from a pure automotive manufacturer to a mobility service provider. Finally, Audi has set itself the goal to become the leading CO2-neutral premium provider. By 2050 at the latest, the company’s operations are to be entirely CO2-neutral.
Source: Audi AG, Release Date: 17 January 2020
