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Audi has just flicked the switch on
twenty examples of the electric A1 e-tron, bringing the remarkable
148mpg* premium subcompacts to life on the streets of Munich as part of
an extensive pilot trial and data capture exercise.
The fleet trial project has been
initiated by Audi, the power company E.ON, the public utility Stadtwerke
München (SWM) and Technische Universität München (TUM), and will help
these organisations to consolidate their thinking on the integration of
electric power into day-to-day motoring, and to identify how the
existing transport and communications infrastructure might need to adapt
to support this.
E.ON and SWM are responsible for
expanding and maintaining the charging infrastructure in the Munich
metropolitan area, and have already installed a demand-oriented charging
network there - SWM within the Bavarian capital’s city limits and E.ON
primarily in outlying areas. All the electric ‘fuelling stations’ offer
power generated via renewable energies.
This trial is part of a project
referred to as "Electric Mobility in Munich as a Pilot Region",
sponsored by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban
Development. The Ministry is providing the region with some ten million
euros for electric mobility. This project will address a number of
issues, ranging from the power grid itself to data transfer between
drivers, vehicles, and electric fuelling stations. For example, the use
of a smartphone as a driver’s main interface will be examined.
"Audi works relentlessly on
comprehensive approaches which maximise benefits to customers. In this
era of electric mobility, we will offer our customers a wide range of
services which go beyond driving itself. For example, the networking of
vehicles with their surroundings and with infrastructure as well as new
concepts of mobility will be important," emphasises Franciscus van Meel,
Head of Electric Mobility Strategy at AUDI AG. He adds: "We want to use
this fleet trial to learn more about our customers’ usage of electric
cars, and their expectations in this regard. We are planning additional
fleet endeavours in strategically important markets."
Close to 150mpg
The Audi A1 e-tron is a range-extender electric car with an output of
102PS and a top speed of 81mph. If the battery runs low on charge, a
compact combustion engine – the range extender – recharges it as needed
to boost the vehicle’s operating range to as much as 155 miles. This
compact electric car is a zero-emissions vehicle for the first 31 miles
of a trip – in city traffic, for instance. The battery comprises a
package of lithium-ion modules mounted in the floor assembly in front of
the rear axle. In short, the four-seat A1 e-tron was designed for daily
driving in metropolitan areas. It offers ‘fuel economy’ of up to
148.7mpg, for a CO2 equivalent of just 45 g/km*.
As Ruth Werhahn, Head of Electric
Mobility at E.ON AG, emphasises: "The fleet trial which started today
will only add to the expertise we have been acquiring during more than
ten pilot projects for electric mobility in six European countries. We
have blazed new trails in the charging infrastructure. We have set up
not only public charging points near large cities but also innovative
charging points at multi-storey car parks in city centres. Drivers
simply insert their parking tickets to use the charging points and then
pay for their electricity along with the parking fee."
Home charging solution
E.ON has already developed commercially viable charging solutions for
various scenarios. For example, it offers a package to private
individuals in Germany that comprises renewable ‘green power’ and a
charging box for use with electric vehicles at home. This is available
subject to a safety inspection by E.ON of each customer’s electrical
equipment to ensure that it can withstand the heavy loads associated
with recharging an electric vehicle for hours.
E.ON also supplies charging stations
open to the general public – primarily commercial customers. At these
stations, two electric cars can recharge their batteries at the same
time via different charging points. Magnetic-stripe cards grant drivers
access. Both types of electric fuelling stations are being used in the
Munich fleet trial. In addition, E.ON is fostering the continuous
enhancement of charging technology by focusing on direct-current (DC)
fast charging as well as cable-free charging.
*calculated as per the proposed
standard for determining the fuel efficiency of vehicles with range
extenders
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