Car manufacturer, Audi, is developing a concept for its own charging hub, where EV charging slots at the facility can be reserved ahead of time.
The Audi charging hub will also feature a lounge and snack area, where customers can relax for 20-30mins while their EV charges.
The car maker revealed its new concept last week and said it will run a single-site trial in Germany in the second half of 2021.
A final decision on the site will be made at a later date.
The hub will feature a flexible design that enables it to be expanded or reduced in size via modular blocks.
Each of these blocks houses a charging pillar as well as lithium-ion batteries, recovered from old EVs, for energy storage.
Energy for the charging hub will be drawn from the grid at night or via roof-mounted solar panels, and by storing the electricity in batteries, it removes the need for more complex infrastructure, such as high-voltage lines and costly transformers.
Audi say the trial station will consist of six blocks storing a total 2.45 megawatt-hours, with charging rates of up to 300kw being possible, and, with their E-Tron GT super sedan, charging at up to 270kw will be possible, enabling a 5-80% charge in approx 22 minutes.
Image: Shutterstock
