The electric shift in the car industry is in full swing – and it’s going fast. A number of car manufacturers have now gone out and set an end date for cars with internal combustion engines.
One of them is Audi, which now confirms that production start for their latest new model with internal combustion engine will be in just four years.
From 2026, they will only launch new models with all-electric operation. The productions of internal combustion engines will be phased out by 2033. It can probably also be a good deal earlier than this.
In the next few years, there will be a number of new electric cars. More specifically, more than 20 all-electric models are planned by 2025.
A key goal is to make production carbon neutral by 2025. This has already been achieved as an intermediate goal at Audi’s production facilities in Hungary and Brussels.
Saves several tons of CO2
Here, Audi works on several fronts. The battery itself is the most energy-intensive part of electric car production, accounting for almost a quarter of total emissions per car produced. That is why this is also where Audi began its work towards zero emissions. In 2018, the company initiated the “CO2 Program in the Supply Chain” to find opportunities to reduce emissions, together with the subcontractors. Closed circuits for materials and the use of green energy are central here.
These measures will have their full effect by 2025. According to calculations made by Audi and their subcontractors, this has the potential to save an average of 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per car. In 2020 alone, Audi saved a total of 335,000 tonnes of CO2 in the supply chain. The emission reduction compared to 2019 was 35,000 tonnes.
Rechargeable hybrids are also disappearing, read more about it here:
– e-tron started Audi’s investment in electric cars, now a number of new models are underway. Photo: NTB Scanpix
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Uses recycled materials
For the production of the first electric car from Audi, e-tron, it was contracted that the energy for battery production would come from renewable sources.
Recycled materials are also increasingly used. Aluminum waste from the press plant is returned to the supplier, for example. This means less need for primary aluminum, and thus less carbon emissions. With the introduction of the “Aluminum Closed Loop”, Audi’s press plant could save a total of 165,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2020.
In addition, recycled materials are used in an increasing number of components. It not only saves carbon emissions, but is also more economical. Around 27 parts in the Audi Q4 e-tron are made of materials that have been used before.
Many have disappeared – but you can still buy 250 diesel cars in Norway
– The use of recycled materials is increasing at many car manufacturers, at Audi these will be used especially in the interiors.
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Wind and solar parks
Inside, recycled materials are used in insulation and cushioning materials, but many visible surfaces also contain recycled raw materials. This includes carpets and parts of the trunk upholstery. IS line interior, the sports seats are upholstered with Dinamica microfiber in combination with artificial leather. Dinamica consists of 45 percent polyester, this is a raw material that is recycled from PET bottles or old textiles.
As long as an electric car is charged with energy from renewable sources, it will be completely emission-free in use. That is why Audi collaborates with energy suppliers, and develops its own charging services.
To cover the growing need for electric car charging, new wind and solar parks are now being established with several partners in several European countries. This will provide five terrawatt new, green energy by 2025, which is equivalent to 250 wind turbines. Additional green projects will follow in the near future.
Thinking new: They will make mobile charging stations
– New charging solutions are forcing their way forward when large European markets are to make the transition to electric cars. “Audi charging hub” is something we can expect here in the future.
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New charging cubes
“Audi charging hub” is a new charging concept. Here, lightning charging can be reserved in advance, while relaxing in a lounge area directly adjacent.
The charging hubs consist of flexible cubes with charging columns and recycled lithium batteries as energy storage. This not only reuses discarded electric car batteries, but also helps to relieve the peaks in the power grid. The solution also reduces the technical complexity with high voltage transmissions and expensive transformers.
The cubes can be charged with 11 kW per cube from a standard 400-volt network. In the pilot project, a total input power of 200 kW is sufficient to give a total capacity of 2.45 Mwh. The cubes are charged primarily at night. During the day, the system is supported by solar cells on the roof. This makes it possible with 70 lightning landings daily, with up to 300 kW of power. A traditional lightning charging station with equivalent power requires a power supply in the megawatt class.
The first “Audi charging hub” will also be put into ordinary operation at Nuremberg this autumn.
Also read: Diesel sales are plummeting – but one brand is going against the flow
Video: Here we test the new Audi Q4 e-tron for the first time
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