Audi Charging Hub opened in Salzburg
In Nuremberg, Audi is testing the new concept for charging e-cars in public spaces. A location will also open in Salzburg by the end of the year.
The lack of efficient charging infrastructure in public spaces is the biggest hurdle for electromobility in cities. And especially in densely built-up areas, it is not uncommon for the existing power grid to massively delay the planned expansion.
At the beginning of the year, Audi launched the so-called Charging Hub in Nuremberg, a pilot project for all those who have no way of charging their electric car in their own garage or carport. The flexible container cubes can be set up and dismantled on existing areas at short notice and offer two quick charging points per unit. The highlight of the project: Thanks to a 2.45 megawatt-hour temporary storage facility, the first system of this type in Nuremberg only needs a 200-kilowatt connection to the low-voltage grid in order to continuously fill the storage modules. Nevertheless, up to six full electric vehicles can be charged at the same time with around one megawatt of power. Used lithium-ion batteries – so-called second-life batteries, which come from dismantled Audi test vehicles – act as power storage devices. Photovoltaic modules on the roof also supply up to 30 kW of green energy. “The figures and the positive customer feedback show that our concept of offering a flexible and premium-oriented fast charging infrastructure in urban areas has worked,” says Ralph Hollmig, project manager for the Audi Charging Hub.
Second charging hub planned in Zurich
Audi registered around 3,100 charging processes from January to the end of April 2022 at the Nuremberg location during the pilot phase of the world’s first fast charging station with six reservable high-power charging charging stations; on average, that’s 24 charging processes with around 800 kWh per day. In addition, an average of 35 people visited the approximately 200 square meter, barrier-free lounge, which also includes a 40 square meter terrace above the charging cubes – and the trend is rising. The convenient charging experience, which can be reserved via app, with a lounge and an attractive catering offer, has been well received. Based on the great success, Audi is planning to open a second charging hub in Zurich in the near future. Unlike in Nuremberg, where the location was deliberately chosen in the area of a busy city entrance, the location in essentially Switzerland should be more compact and thus compatible with the tight space conditions in inner cities. A variant with four covered charging points on two power cubes is therefore planned.
Flexible concept adapts to the location
Two 55-inch screens will point out, among other things, the extensive service landscape around the hub – this includes numerous food and fitness offers as well as e-bike sharing in the immediate vicinity. The variant of the Audi charging hub in Zurich, which is more compact than in Nuremberg, is also based on the modular principle, according to which different sizes of a charging hub can be implemented with and without a lounge. “In this way, we are able to react flexibly to the relevant situation at the location,” says Audi project manager Hollmig.
“The numbers show that our concept has paid off.” Ralph Holmig, project manager
As an important car location and the headquarters of the largest dealership in Europe, Salzburg is also on the list of cities that will have a charging hub in the near future, alongside Berlin. If the plans of the manufacturer from Ingolstadt go according to plan, the schedule has already been set: The convenient charging solution should go into operation in the city of Salzburg by the end of 2022. A location has already been found, but when asked, reference is made to the pending building permit from the authorities, which one does not want to anticipate. What is certain, however, is that the location in Salzburg WILL NOT offer its own gastronomy. Instead, one strives for partnerships with companies in the immediate vicinity.
Incidentally, the prices for charging depend on the tariff of the charging card that IS used for the charging hub. And for the time being, it is also planned to keep the Audi charging stations open for all brands.