Audi a Member of the "National Electric Mobility Platform"

BERLIN - May 4, 2010: Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel has given the starting signal for the “National Electric Mobility Platform” (NEMP), in which AUDI AG is also actively participating. With this initiative the Federal Government has set itself the goal of developing Germany into a leading market for electric mobility. The founding event on Monday in Berlin also included top-level discussions between the Federal Government and representatives from industry, science and professional associations. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, also took part. In an exhibition at the “18th of March Square” before the Brandenburg Gate Audi displayed its electric show car, the Audi e-tron. Michael Dick, member of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, Technical Development, has assumed the chairmanship of the working group on “Standardization and Certification” within the NEMP.

Audi is working hard on the future of mobility. At the turn of the year 2010-2011 the Q5 hybrid will be the first Audi to come on the market with a combined gasoline and electric motor. Audi first displayed the A8 hybrid, whose 144 g CO2 is an all-time best in the full-size category, as a concept vehicle in Geneva. The A1 e-tron concept celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show, demonstrating Audi’s expertise in electrification even in the compact car segment.

At the end of 2012 Audi will be putting the e-tron, presented in the preceding year at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, on the market as the first electric vehicle, available as a small series.

“In the future our customers will be able to choose from an increasing variety of drive technologies,” states Rupert Stadler. “As a supplement to our ultra-efficient TDI and TFSI engines, we'll also be offering the best possible solution for the greatest variety of mobility requirements in electric mobility as well. They include hybrid drive and fully electrified driving.” The name “e-tron” plays an important role here. Stadler: “Just as the name “quattro" has become synonymous for all-wheel drive, 'e-tron' will become Audi's brand name for electric mobility.”

In developing alternative drive systems, Audi is pursuing the strategy of employing each technology specifically in the model series and markets where it will significantly benefit customers. “We regard today's full hybrid as primarily a very specific technology for reducing fuel consumption. As a result, plug-in hybrids will prove their strength where longer distances of purely electrical driving in combination with a combustion engine are required,” says Michael Dick.

“The strengths of the electric car clearly lie in urban mobility, where emission-free driving is becoming increasingly important,” says Dick. Besides hybrids and electric vehicles, Audi is also expanding its expertise in developing the foundations for drive concepts with fuel cells and hydrogen as the energy source.

Each year Audi invests about two million euros in development projects, with the focus on further progress in combustion engines in the total vehicle group. Another priority is electric mobility.

e-performance project house
To consolidate activities in developing electric driving, Audi has established the e-performance project house. In addition, since fall 2009 a team of developers from AUDI AG and scientists from various universities have been working in a research project, also called e-performance and subsidized by BMBF, on the development of a new overall electric vehicle concept, from body to battery and performance electronics.

Detroit Show Car Audi e-tron (exhibition car in Berlin)
At the first big automotive trade fair of 2010 Audi presented its concept of an uncompromising, purist compact sports car with a strictly electrical drive. The Detroit show car Audi e-tron, as the 3.93m long, 1.78m wide and barely 1.22m high two-seater is called, was consequently the second electric concept vehicle from the four rings brand, presented just a few months after the debut of the Audi e-tron at the 2009 IAA.

Together with its low gross vehicle weight of only about 1,350kg, high-torque units at the rear axle provide driving performance befitting the class of the Detroit show car Audi e-tron. Two electric motors with altogether 150kW and 2,650Nm accelerate the coupé with its ASF design aluminum body in just 5.9 seconds from 0 to 100km/h. Audi e-tron sprints from 60 to 120km/h in just 5.1 seconds.

Audi e-tron (2009 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show)
At the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show 2009 Audi presented the first member of the e-tron family: a high-performance sports car with a strictly electrical drive. Four motors – two each on the front and rear axles – drive the wheels, turning the concept into a genuine quattro. With 230kW and 4,500Nm torque, the two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds while making the interim sprint from 60 to 120km/h in 4.1 seconds. The lithium ion rechargeable battery provides 42.4kWh of real usable energy, allowing a range of about 248km.

Audi A1 e-tron (Geneva)
Audi is gradually expanding its model family under the e-tron name: The A1 e-tron concept exhibited at the Geneva Motor Show is an innovative Mega City Vehicle (MCV). Like its close relative, the related sports car, it has an electric drive. Its range in urban driving exceeds 50km. Thanks to its top performance of 75kW, the A1 e-tron also affords great driving pleasure. Should the battery energy become depleted, an especially compact unit consisting of single-disk rotary piston engine and generator as a range extender recharges the battery with a charging power of up to 15kW.

The A1 e-tron thereby achieves an additional range of 200km. According to the draft for the standardization of consumption for range extender vehicles, this yields an average fuel consumption of 1.9l/100km – a CO2 equivalent of merely 45g per kilometre.

Audi A8 hybrid
Audi presented the A8 hybrid as a technical concept at the Geneva Motor Show. Its two motors – a 2.0 TFSI and an e-machine – together generate 180 kW and 480 Nm of torque, affording the superior driving performance of a large 6-cylinder engine. The consistent downsizing combined with the benefits of electrification also manifests its strengths in fuel consumption – at only 6.2 litres per 100km on the average. This corresponds to a CO2 value of 144g/km.

The Audi A8 hybrid is designed as a parallel hybrid– an ultra efficient principle that avoids unnecessary friction and power loss. A powerful electric motor is integrated between the four-cylinder gasoline engine with 155kW and the 8-stage tiptronic. It contributes an additional 33kW of power and a full 211Nm of torque.

The A8 concept is a full hybrid, distinguished by the ability to operate with the gasoline engine or electric motor alone, or with the combined power of both drive systems. The hybrid drive allows strictly electrical operation up to 65km/h, with a range of more than two kilometres.

Audi is an associated partner of “Desertec”
AUDI AG wants to invest in renewable energy sources. The company underlined this point last week in signing an agreement with the international consortium “Desertec Industry Initiative”. A long-term goal of the initiative is the climate-protective recovery of energy in the deserts of North Africa and the Near East. As an associated partner, Audi is committed first of all to establishing the general framework and necessary infrastructure.

“When we at Audi speak of sustainable mobility, then we're looking at the overall energy balance sheet,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. Audi is planning to put the first electric cars on the market as a small series as early as 2012. According to Stadler, Audi won't be stopping at car production, but also plans to ensure sustainable operation for its customers. “Electric cars from Audi will be driving with sustainably generated power. To achieve this goal, we're subsidizing the construction of solar and wind energy facilities.”