Electrifying opening for the first Audi charging hub.
Zurich is the second place in the world to have its own Audi charging center. The concept is based on “charging cubes” – modular containers that, in addition to fast charging infrastructure, contain refurbished lithium-ion batteries made from dismantled development vehicles. A charging hub, therefore, does not require a complicated, expensive infrastructure with a high-voltage grid and transformers, but is more than a charging station, providing a sustainable fast charging infrastructure where the local power grid would prove insufficient. The four charging points at the entrance to the Messe Zürich garage have a capacity of up to 320 kW each. This electrifying event was celebrated by numerous guests, media representatives, Audi ambassadors, and Audi experts – true to the motto “One small step for Audi, one giant leap for the sustainable mobility of the future”.
Audi has demonstrated for years that the “Vorsprung Durch Technik” means not only the highest engineering craftsmanship, cutting-edge design, and digital experiences, but also new holistic mobility solutions, and the Audi Charging Hub is the latest example of this. Following the successful pilot phase of the world’s first Audi charging center in Nuremberg, a second Audi charging center opened in Zurich in the lively Oerlikon banking district, right in front of the Messe Zürich car park.
The ceremonial unveiling of Switzerland’s first facility began on the “square” of Zurich Airport. The AMAG competence center for electromobility was the perfect starting point for an electrifying journey into the world of high-power charging. In urban areas, finding a free charging station can be a challenge. Fast charging options with a sufficiently large charging capacity, such as on highways, are almost non-existent in urban areas. Audi solves this problem by allowing electric car drivers who do not have the option to charge at home to charge their vehicles easily and much faster than with other charging devices.
At the Zurich plant, there are a total of four indoor high power charging (HPC) points with a capacity of up to 320 kW. Its storage capacity is 1.05 MWh – comparable to the storage capacity of 11 Audi e-Tron 55s – and can power up to 60 electric vehicles per day. The hub also uses 100% renewable energy, and a rooftop photovoltaic system above the charging cubes provides additional green energy.
Thanks to the modular system, the hub takes up little space, can be individually adapted to the environment, and can also be dismantled later – in short, it is a customized fast-charging solution for urban locations. Charging hubs are available in a variety of sizes without much pre-work or complicated design. This flexibility has allowed the Audi charging center in Zurich to dispense with a showroom, as there is a wide range of services in close proximity. Two large 55-inch screens provide the necessary information, in addition to tips for maximizing loading.
The key element of this variable, the compact concept is the swing arm, which is a modified version of the Nürnberg pilot arm. This allows cars to be charged across the entire width of the space with exceptional accessibility – regardless of where the manufacturer has placed the charging port. The operational displays at the loading points are height adjustable and the areas between the loading cubes and the vehicles are wide enough for wheelchair users.
Audi customers can use the myAudi app to reserve an individual charging spot 45 minutes in advance at no extra cost. Reservations are available for the first 15 minutes, after which they will be canceled. The Audi charging hub can be used by all brands of electric vehicles that are equipped with the popular CCS charging port in Europe. For the premium brand with the four rings, the Audi charging station represents the next step in its evolution towards sustainable and individualized mobility and has also been internationally awarded.