German automaker Audi has revealed a unique EV charging concept that utilises second-life batteries to create quick charging opportunities for EV owners who cannot charge at home.
Audi’s ‘first of its kind’ charging concept is built around several different new ideas, starting with flexible container cubes housing second-life batteries, which can be assembled and disassembled in only a few days.
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Each ‘cube’ provides two fast-charging stations that offer a total of six charging fast-charging points with up to 320kW of charging power.
The cubes only need access to a 200kW green power connection through the low-voltage network that runs parallel to the primary electric grid. This low voltage connection is able to supply enough power to charge the batteries which act as a buffer, with 2.45MWh of interim storage.
Solar panels on the roof of the cube setup also provide an additional 30kW of green energy.
This combination not only provides a home for EV batteries that have reached the end of their useful life as a vehicle battery but also helps to reduce costs and resources in the building of necessary charging stations.
According to Audi, approximately 80 EVs can be charged at each cube per day without taxing the maximum storage capacity combined with the hub’s 200kW power input.
As an example of what these cube-based charging stations can deliver, an Audi e-tron GT reaches a charging capacity of up to 270kW, which would mean the car could charge energy for up to 100km in around 5 minutes, whereas a charge from 5 per cent to 80 per cent would take approximately 23 minutes.
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The concept is not only practical, but offers users a level of luxury not before seen in EV charging, with an exclusive reservation option, lounge area, food delivery service, upscale automat and mobile car care.
The Nuremberg charging concept will be staffed between 10am and 7pm, but the six charging points and lounge area will be available 24 hours, seven days a week.
