Audi opens its first charging center in Austria. Following locations in Nuremberg, Berlin and Zurich, the four-ring brand is opening a world-class fast-charging station in Salzburg today, inaugurating its fourth worldwide. The adjacent MOONCITY is Salzburg’s competence and experience center for new and electric mobility. It provides excellent infrastructure in the immediate vicinity of the centre. That’s why charging offers a customer-friendly and enjoyable experience.
“The rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure in Europe and worldwide is crucial for the success of e-mobility. We see this as a joint task for politics and industry. The Audi charging hubs are our way of supplementing the public charging infrastructure,” says Audi CEO Markus Duesmann.
High charging output without any drop in performance through “Vorsprung durch Technik”
The Audi charging hub differs from many other quick-charging stations in that it does not require a medium-voltage connection. This sets it apart from many other quick-charging stations, which often necessitate additional infrastructure. The concept is based on “charging cubes” – modular containers that contain refurbished lithium-ion batteries (second-life batteries) made from disassembled Audi development vehicles. The design reduces the strain on local grid capacity and means the charging hub requires no elaborate, expensive infrastructure.
The Audi charging hub in Salzburg has four charging points with a buffer storage unit that enables constant charging with up to 320 kW of output at each of them, even if they are all in use at the same time. At full capacity, that is, when all four charging points are used simultaneously, each charging point can always supply 320 kW.
Accessibility
In designing the charging hub, barrier-free accessibility was of the utmost importance. Wheelchair users in particular will find sufficient space to open the doors and move around the vehicle thanks to the spacious dimensions. The payment terminals can be moved to a wheelchair-friendly height at the push of a button. Charging becomes even easier if the vehicle uses Plug & Charge. This feature enables the vehicle to exchange payment information directly with the charging point – eliminating the need for physical payment or verification. Additionally, the charging cables are mounted on an innovative swivel arm so that the charging plug can be effortlessly moved to any position on the vehicle, allowing the user to conveniently reach the charging port no matter where it is, regardless of the vehicle model.
All payment cards accepted
The new charging concept for electric cars will not only be available to Audi drivers. Any electric car equipped with a CCS charging port can be charged, no matter the make. Audi customers are able to reserve a slot in advance. They can use the myAudi app to make an appointment for a no-wait charging slot. A bar ensures the booked charging point stays free for up to 15 minutes after the scheduled start time.
