Audi’s Charging Hub Could Be The ‘Gas’ Station Of The Future

[cawimmer430]

Audi's Charging Hub Could Be The 'Gas' Station Of The Future

Audi is planning to launch more than 20 electric vehicles by 2025 and the company knows they won't be successful unless charging infrastructure significantly improves.

With that in mind, the automaker has unveiled the Audi charging hub which is being billed as a "concept for quick-charging for premium-level electromobility."



Essentially a futuristic charging station, the hub has EV chargers on the first level and a lounge upstairs. The latter is like a first-class airport lounge and boasts a variety of amenities to make recharging a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

While the lounge sure beats sitting in your car, there's a lot of technology and smart thinking behind the scenes. In particular, the charging hub repurposes lithium-ion batteries from development vehicles and allows the station to store significant amounts of energy.  This eliminates the need for high-voltage lines and expensive transformers.

The hub is envisioned to have 2.45 Mwh of energy storage as well as six charging stations with a maximum capacity of up to 300 kW. Since only a standard 400 volt connection is needed, Audi says the charging hub can be installed in a variety of places without extensive planning and preparation.

The charging hub consists of "container cubes" and they allow for "maximum flexibility and scalability." They also enable hubs to be "transported, installed and adapted" to various locations largely independent of local network capabilities.



This isn't just theoretical either as Audi is planning to conduct a pilot project in Germany. The automaker is currently talking to possible partners and is looking for a location to install their first charging hub.

If everything goes according to plan, the hub will open later this year. The company will monitor day-to-day operations and collect customer feedback to determine if additional hubs will be built. Furthermore, the automaker is planning to allow non-Audi owners to use the chargers and some parts of the lounge – at least for the pilot phase.

Audi's Member of the Board for Technical Development, Oliver Hoffmann, said "A flexible high-performing HPC charging park like this does not require much from the local electricity grid and uses a sustainable battery concept. Our customers benefit in numerous ways: from the ability to make exclusive reservations, a lounge area and short waiting times thanks to high-performance charging." He added the hub "embodies our aspiration for the electric era and highlights Audi's commitment to Vorsprung durch Technik."




Link: https://www.carscoops.com/2021/05/audis-charging-hub-could-be-the-gas-station-of-the-future/

[CaminoRacer]

There's an old gas station in Provo that I want to buy and turn into a Level 3 charging station, since there's no fast chargers in town. It's a perfect spot too, because it's right on main street and there's a ton of stuff to walk around and see/do while you charge for 20 minutes.

[Laconian]

There's an old gas station in Provo that I want to buy and turn into a Level 3 charging station, since there's no fast chargers in town. It's a perfect spot too, because it's right on main street and there's a ton of stuff to walk around and see/do while you charge for 20 minutes.

I might be interested in investing in such an effort if it's as prime a spot as you say it is.

[FoMoJo]

There's an old gas station in Provo that I want to buy and turn into a Level 3 charging station, since there's no fast chargers in town. It's a perfect spot too, because it's right on main street and there's a ton of stuff to walk around and see/do while you charge for 20 minutes.

Sounds like a good long term investment providing city codes don't get in the way.

[Soup DeVille]

There is no way in hell I would buy an old gas station- the tanks are still underground and removing and abating them is a nightmare that could easily run into the millions.

[cawimmer430]

There is no way in hell I would buy an old gas station- the tanks are still underground and removing and abating them is a nightmare that could easily run into the millions.

The solution is to keep the filling stations we have today and fill them up with SYNTHETIC FUELS. 

I just can't see EVs working for the masses. And if we see the bizarre ideas of the World Economic Forum and that German creep Klaus Schwab with his book The Great Reset, that's exactly the point. They want less cars and less individual mobility for the masses.

[Submariner]

There is no way in hell I would buy an old gas station- the tanks are still underground and removing and abating them is a nightmare that could easily run into the millions.

The only thing worse than the cost is the time it takes to go through the 800 required studies, studies of studies, mandatory-multi-year-reviews, dealing with brain damaged bureaucrats, etc.

[CaminoRacer]

There is no way in hell I would buy an old gas station- the tanks are still underground and removing and abating them is a nightmare that could easily run into the millions.

Yeah, that would be the major roadblock besides the cost of the chargers. Not sure if they've been taken care of yet.

The solution is to keep the filling stations we have today and fill them up with SYNTHETIC FUELS. 

I just can't see EVs working for the masses. And if we see the bizarre ideas of the World Economic Forum and that German creep Klaus Schwab with his book The Great Reset, that's exactly the point. They want less cars and less individual mobility for the masses.

Any tanks at that station would be long long long past their useful life.

[Soup DeVille]

To be honest, its wide spread problem that the oil companies themselves should be taking care of.

[AutobahnSHO]

There's an old gas station in Provo that I want to buy and turn into a Level 3 charging station, since there's no fast chargers in town. It's a perfect spot too, because it's right on main street and there's a ton of stuff to walk around and see/do while you charge for 20 minutes.

I might be interested in investing in such an effort if it's as prime a spot as you say it is.

PROFITSPIN

[Laconian]

Remediationspin sounds costly though.

What will happen when we hit the really fat part of the failure bell curve, and tanks around the country start leaking at the same time? What a disaster that will be.

[Laconian]

Is there a fossil fuel equivalent of vitrification? I wonder if one could inject some kind of inert absorbent foam into old tanks to absorb fuel and prevent it from leaking.

[AutobahnSHO]

Is there a fossil fuel equivalent of vitrification? I wonder if one could inject some kind of inert absorbent foam into old tanks to absorb fuel and prevent it from leaking.

Good idea- or inject the foam to absorb the gas, cut a big hole in the top and scoop it all out, then cut it into pieces and haul it away.

[Laconian]

5 seconds until Soup tells me that my idea is already done and/or wouldn't work.

[FoMoJo]

Yeah, that would be the major roadblock besides the cost of the chargers. Not sure if they've been taken care of yet.

Any tanks at that station would be long long long past their useful life.

Get partners to invest with you.  Share the risk.

[Soup DeVille]

5 seconds until Soup tells me that my idea is already done and/or wouldn't work.

I'm not an expert here, but my understanding is that its not what's still in the tanks that's the problem; but that they all have leaked over the years to a certain extent- requiring the soil to he removed.

I don't know if your idea has been done.

I really think the big oil companies should be on the hook for these costs. Most gas stations were actually privately owned and the liability doesn't go to the oil companies: but they profited off of the stations; they sold the franchises; and they have the pockets and the means to fix it.

[SJ_GTI]

Oil tanks in the ground is a common problem for home owners here in the northeast. It is a pain in the butt to get them removed...plenty of people just keep using them (and don't switch to cheaper NG) just so they don't have to go through the process of removing them. It is also a red flag for new homebuyers that are aware of it...plenty of people won't consider purchasing a house that has oil heat.

The process is basically what Soup said. You not only have to have the tank professionally removed, you have to have the soil all the tank tested. If any fuel residue is found then you have to have the soil removed and retested, and then so on and so forth. Some people do get lucky but there are plenty of nightmare stories where people spent more removing the oil tank than they did on purchasing the house.