Electrifying opening for the first Audi charging hub in Zurich

For years, Audi has confirmed “Vorsprung durch Technik” stands for not solely the highest engineering artistry, state-of-the-art design and digital experiences, but in addition for new holistic mobility options and the Audi charging hub is the newest instance of this. Following the profitable pilot part of the first Audi charging hub in the world, in Nuremberg, the second Audi charging hub opened at the starting of November 2022 in Zurich – in the vibrant banking district of Oerlikon, instantly in entrance of Messe Zürich’s parking storage.

Quick-charging in the metropolis

The ceremonial unveiling of the first website in Switzerland kicked off at ‘the square’ at Zurich Airport. AMAG’s competence middle for electromobility was the preferrred start line for an electrifying journey into the world of high-power charging. Ralph Hollmig, the head of the Audi charging hub venture at AUDI AG, ramped up pleasure with introductionary details about the new hub: “The Audi charging hub pilot project in Nuremberg proved that our unique concept has its finger on the pulse at all times. The urban charging concept is for city drivers, and it offers them an efficient alternative to charging from home.”

In city areas, discovering a free charging station could be a problem; quick-charging alternatives with correspondingly excessive charging efficiency, like these on the autobahns, are practically nonexistent in city areas. Audi is remedying this by permitting drivers of electrical automobiles who don’t have the alternative to cost at house to cost their automobiles in a manner that’s straightforward and considerably sooner than different charging infrastructure.

A coronary heart fabricated from second-life batteries

The coronary heart of the Audi charging hub is fabricated from charging cubes – modular containers that, in addition to a quick-charging infrastructure, include used lithium-ion batteries created from disassembled Audi check automobiles. Martin Wosnitza, Head of Business Innovation and the Audi venture chief for the Audi charging hub in Switzerland, explains: “The second-life batteries serve as buffer storage, the advantage of which is the fact that we don’t need an elaborate, expensive infrastructure with a high-voltage grid and transformers. The hub only requires minor power demands from the local power grid. The Audi charging hub is in a position to bring a sustainable quick-charging infrastructure with second-life battery storage to all the places where the power grid would prove insufficient.”

Recharging for man and machine

At the website in Zurich, there are a complete of 4 coated high-power charging (HPC) factors with as much as 320 kW. Its storage capability quantities to 1.05 MWh – corresponding to the storage capability of 11 Audi e-tron 55s – and it will possibly provide energy for as much as 60 electrical automobiles per day. The hub additionally makes use of 100-percent renewable power, whereas a photovoltaic system on the roof over the charging cubes provides further inexperienced power.

Thanks to its modular system, the hub requires little house, will be individually tailored to its environment, and it’s dismantled afterward – in brief, it’s a tailored quick-charging answer for city places. The charging hubs can be found in quite a lot of sizes with out a lot preliminary work or elaborate building. This flexibility allowed the Audi charging hub in Zurich to forgo a lounge, as a result of the quick neighborhood has a variety of companies. Two massive 55-inch screens present important info, in addition to tips on maximising your cost.

A vital part of this variable, compact idea is the swivel arm that’s a modified model of the one at the pilot location in Nuremberg. With this, automobiles will be charged throughout the total width of the house with distinctive accessibility – no matter the place the producer put the charging port. The working shows at the charging factors are height-adjustable, and the areas between the charging cubes and automobiles are extensive sufficient for wheelchair customers.

Charging slots booked through app

Audi clients can use the myAudi app to guide a person charging slot in advance for 45 minutes at no further value. Reservations can be found for the first quarter-hour, after which they’ll be canceled. The Audi charging hub can be utilized by all manufacturers of electrical automobiles which can be outfitted with a CCS charging port, which is widespread in Europe.

Outstanding innovation

For the premium model with the 4 rings, the Audi charging hub marks one other step in its evolution towards sustainable and individualized mobility, and it has additionally been introduced with worldwide accolades.

Head of Marketing Katharina Momani proudly mentioned: “The innovative Audi charging hub in Nuremberg was presented with the renowed Red Dot Award in 2022 in the ‘Brands & Communication Design’ category, and it also won the ABC Best of Best Award in 2022 in the ‘Mobility & Innovation’ category. We’re convinced that we’ll continue this success with the refined concept in Zurich.”

The jury for the international design and innovation award defined: “Thanks to the Audi charging hub, charging electric cars is now as easy as visiting a gas station, only more convenient. It’s a clean and well-designed charging concept that factors in not only technology, but also people.”

The Audi skysphere idea can be on show till the afternoon of Monday, November 14.
More details about the Audi charging hub will be discovered here.