Audi 2014 Annual Report Download - page 69

the system identifi es the right moment
to switch from the electric motor to the
TDI where this will save energy.
At the very heart of the electrifi cation
strategy are all-electric cars such as
the Audi R e-tron. Based on the current
state of development, its two electric
motors driving the rear wheels produce
a combined  kW ( hp). “The bat-
tery has been our main area of progress,
thanks to the new cells now available,”
explains Ricky Hudi, Head of Electrics/
Electronics Development. “We have suc-
ceeded in doubling the energy capacity
to . kWh, which has increased the
range from  to  kilometers,” adds
Jens Koetz, Head of Networking/Energy
Systems. The rapid advances in battery
technology create new opportunities for
Audi. The brand’s second electric car,
a spacious long-distance vehicle, is also
already in development.
At the end of , Audi unveiled a fuel
cell vehicle, the A Sportback h-tron
quattro – an electric car that generates its
power on-board from hydrogen. “There
are virtually no hydrogen fi lling stations
anywhere in the world yet, but we are
developing this technology to produc-
tion readiness,” comments Immanuel
Kutschera, Head of V Diesel Engine/Fuel
Cell Pre-Development. “That means we
will be ready to act as soon as the market
develops and a fuel distribution infra-
structure takes shape.” The technology
demonstrator is a genuine quattro –
a fi rst for fuel cell cars. Its two electric
motors drive the front and rear wheels
with a combined output of  kW. The
car accelerates from  to  km/h in
just . seconds, and one tankful of fuel
is enough to drive up to  kilometers.
“Our plug-in hybrid models such as
the A Sportback e-tron and the new
Q e-tron quattro are the right technolo-
gies for today’s needs,” adds Hackenberg.
“They combine the merits of the com-
bustion engine with those of electric
drive. We will now be bringing one such
model onto the market every year.”
Looking further ahead, however, the
development chief expects the all-electric
car to gain in importance. The prerequi-
sites are a public charging infrastructure
and all-electric drive systems with a
range on a par with today’s combustion
engines.
Hackenberg brings the meeting in the
production hall to a close by summa-
rizing Audi’s drive strategy : “We resolve
contradictions. At Audi, we attain
a superlative combination of supreme
power, sporty performance and fuel
economy. CO reduction is a requirement
we are very happy to fulfi ll. We also
seek to go the extra mile – we inspire
customers with new technologies to
create emotion and driving pleasure.
That’s the Audi way and that puts us in
a very strong position.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Hackenberg
“At Audi, we attain
“At Audi, we attain
a superlative combination
a superlative combination
of supreme power,
of supreme power,
sporty performance and
sporty performance and
fuel economy.”
fuel economy.”
PHOTOS : Manfred Jarisch, AUDI AG
Fuel consumption and emission figures at the end of the Annual Report