Audi 2009 Annual Report Download - page 148

145
Management Report
132 Audi Group
140 Business and
underlying situation
140 Economic environment
143 Research and development
146 Procurement
147 Production
149 Deliveries and distribution
153 Financial performance
indicators
157 Social and ecological aspects
168 Risks, opportunities
and outlook
177 Disclaimer
Audi pre sense plus combines the various Audi pre sense modules and complements them with
the full deceleration function, which can reduce the severity of impact in collisions.
Electric mobility
At a time of growing efforts to reduce dependence on mineral oil resources and create new op-
tions for protecting the climate, technical solutions for the electrification of the driveline are
gaining ever increasing significance. The Audi Group is mindful of its responsibility as an auto-
motive manufacturer and is therefore focusing its resources and activities on developing alter-
native drive systems, alongside further optimizing the total vehicle and the internal combustion
engine in order to cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions (cf. “Product-based environmental
aspects,” page 163 ff.).
Instead of retroactively electrifying conventional vehicles, the Audi Group pursues a broader
policy when developing electric mobility because the full potential of electric drive can only be
exploited if all systems and components are properly coordinated. New-style concepts take into
account the specific characteristics and scope of an electrically powered vehicle by combining
mechanical energy flows, thermo-management, climate control and driving dynamics to reach a
new level of technology.
The e-performance development project
To enable the strategic alignment of all activities in the sphere of electric mobility, the Audi
Group has established the e-performance project house to handle the topic of electrification in
advance development. This team of lateral thinkers and experts from Technical Development
stepped up its activities in October 2009 in the e-performance project, which is being subsidized
by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. In addition to the project house, the
Company has set up a coordinating department for all matters revolving around electrification
in production by creating the department “Project Steering/Strategy for Vehicle Electrification.”
The topic is also being discussed in depth in a Company-wide steering committee with members
drawn from all corporate divisions.
Audi e-tron
In fall 2009 the Company unveiled a high-performance sports car with all-electric drive in the
guise of the progressive Audi e-tron concept car.
Its holistic approach to the development of electric vehicles is unmistakable. Alongside its pro-
gressive drive concept and high range, other notable attributes of the Audi e-tron include its
design, sportiness, dynamism and the use of innovative communication technologies.
The e-tron’s electric motors are capable of accelerating it from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 sec-
onds if need be. The range of around 250 kilometers is impressive for an electric vehicle; it is
made possible by the component that is at the very heart of the e-tron, the high-performance
lithium-ion battery, working in tandem with technology that is specifically configured for an
electric-drive vehicle. The vehicle’s modest weight is the result of the rigorous application of
lightweight construction principles combining an aluminum Audi Space Frame with fiber-
reinforced plastic. Particular importance was also attached to the sophisticated aerodynamics,
which help not only to reduce drag, but also to optimize thermo-management. Because electric
vehicles do not have the waste heat of an internal combustion engine as a resource, advanced
energy management is furthermore used. An innovative heat pump with low energy consump-
tion takes charge of heating the interior, while a highly efficient air conditioning system handles
cooling. It also operates alongside the thermo-management to regulate the battery’s tempera-
ture so as to optimize its performance and range. The e-tron also integrates a prototype of a
car-2-X communication system, which for instance helps to improve the traffic flow and there-
fore further reduce energy consumption.
A prototype of the Audi e-tron already became available for test drives in December 2009 and a
small number will come onto the market at the end of 2012.