Month: January 2019

“This award is important to us because it confirms how well the concept of the new Audi Q3 is received by customers,” says Jens Rückert, product line head, who accepted the award at the ceremony in Stuttgart: “The compact SUV very confidently shows what it can do. Due to its stretched wheelbase, it is now larger precisely where families need space. In addition, it is now even more versatile. Its digital, intuitive operating and display concept as well as its innovative assist systems bring full-size convenience to the compact segment, making the Audi Q3 a perfect all-rounder.”

The readers’ choice of “Best Cars” by “auto motor und sport” is one of the most important competitions for the European automotive industry. It took place for the 43^rd time this year. 385 models competed in eleven categories. Each reader had two votes per class: One for their favorite of all the candidates, their overall winner, and the other for the best imported vehicle. The Audi Q3 ran against 56 competitors in its category of “compact SUV/off-road vehicles” and prevailed with 14.4 percent of the votes.

The electric car will play an important role as a power consumer in the digital energy world. As an energy storage device, the electric car has great potential to drive the energy transition forward and absorb peak loads resulting from regenerative generation. Cars are stationary for most of the day, which leaves a great deal of time for flexible charging. Because of this, the new power consumers not only present an additional load on the power grid, but can potentially serve as flexible storage devices in the context of the variable availability of solar and wind power. Inside a building, electric cars and household appliances, heat pumps, and other consumers can coordinate their particular power requirements, thereby preventing overloads. However, this requires all large power generators and consumers to be connected in order to ensure intelligent control of power requirements. This is precisely what the EEBUS initiative has defined as its goal: Seamless and cross-industry communication in the energy system of the future. Audi is working together with more than 70 international companies to create the common language for energy management in the Internet of Things.

Plugfest confirms EEBUS standard release
During the two-day “Plugfest E-Mobility” on January 28 and 29, EEBUS members will test their developments on the basis of the open communication standard at the Audi plant in Brussels. Developers and engineers will perform model tests to check whether the photovoltaics system, the charging infrastructure, the electric car, and the heating system can communicate without interference. The devices are connected via what is known as a home energy management system (HEMS). All the information runs together in this control center, which allows all energy-relevant devices to exchange information on their electricity requirements. Following the “Plugfest,” the companies involved will pass the EEBUS specification for the area of e-mobility.

connect charging system: efficient and connected
Audi offers various solutions for charging at home. In its highest expansion stage, the optional connect charging system allows a charging capacity of up to 22 kW. It then takes only around four and a half hours to fully charge the Audi e-tron. The benefits of the system are obvious: With the connect charging system, the Audi e-tron can always be charged with the maximum output possible with the home electrical system and the car. The system also considers the power requirements of other consumers in the household and adjusts accordingly to prevent overloading the home electrical system and thus tripping the breaker. This presumes that the home is equipped with a compatible HEMS to which the charging system connects via the home’s Wi-Fi network. In this context, Audi is cooperating with two partner companies, SMA Solar Technology and Hager Group, both of which are also implementing the standard of the EEBUS initiative.

Sustainable and intelligent charging
In combination with the connect charging system and an appropriately equipped HEMS, the Audi e-tron also takes advantage of variable electricity rates. It can charge the battery when electricity is less expensive while simultaneously considering the customer’s mobility requirements, such as departure time and charge level. The connect charging system gets the necessary rate information either from HEMS or from information the customer enters into the myAudi portal. If the home is equipped with a photovoltaic system, the customer can also optimize the charging process to prefer the electricity generated by the system for charging the Audi e-tron. The electric SUV does this by considering either forecast phases of sunshine or the current flow of electricity at the home’s connection point to the public grid.

Interaction with the power grid
It is conceivable that EEBUS devices will interact with the power grid to an even greater extent in the future. An interface with the grid operator via HEMS is one possible application. This would allow electric cars to even better adapt their charge planning to grid bottlenecks and ensure that the power grid is stable, for example if multiple electric cars are charging on the same road simultaneously. The specifications of the communication standard will be rolled out at the beginning of February 2019. The EEBUS initiative is thus on its way to introducing a Europe-wide standard that connects all major power consumers in the home in a comprehensive and manufacturer-independent way.

Further information on the EEBUS initiative is available at www.eebus.org.

In the midst of the urban glamour of the 69th Berlin International Film Festival at Potsdamer Platz, the Audi e-tron will be the first all-electric production model of the brand with the Four Rings to demonstrate what locally emission-free mobility looks like. At the grand opening gala, the gala premieres and the awards ceremony, the film celebrities will drive to the red carpet in the electric SUV. Festival Director Dieter Kosslick is already driving to and from his numerous appointments in the current Berlinale season with the Audi e-tron and testing its suitability for everyday use in the capital city. “It’s an exciting experience to be on the road with the Audi e-tron. The car sets the course into a new era of mobility.”

The Berlin International Film Festival brings together courageous and unconventional filmmakers. They are shaping the changes of our time and breaking new ground with a self-confident spirit of discovery. “Audi has a close connection with this film scene and is therefore once again promoting dialogue with change makers and creative visionaries by hosting the Berlinale Open House program in the Audi Berlinale Lounge,” says Jason Lusty, Head of Marketing Germany at AUDI AG.

The Audi Berlinale Lounge offers a special platform for exchanging ideas and networking. It is a temporary pavilion directly at the red carpet in front of the Berlinale Palast and is open to all festival visitors. Within the framework of the Berlin Open House, Audi and the Berlinale will present discussions with top-level participants, interviews and special events on a daily basis during the festival (February 7 to 16).

In the new Electric Minds pre-evening format with moderator Jörg Thadeusz, creative minds from film, culture and society will transfer topics from electric mobility such as voltage, silence and range to other areas of life. At the podcast masterclass, visitors will learn how podcasts can be used effectively from expert Vincent Kittmann, head of the Podstars OMR marketing network. In the evenings, the “Berlinale Lounge Nights” will be held with exclusive concerts and DJ sets. The opening gala and award ceremony of the Berlinale will also be shown there live.

The Ingolstadt-based company has also been supporting talented directors of short films since 2015 with the Audi Short Film Award. The €20,000 prize for experimental cinema art will be presented at the official award ceremony of the 69th Berlinale on February 16. “Short-film makers always take a special pleasure in experimenting and have the courage to implement new forms of expression. This spirit of discovery is reflected in our own corporate philosophy, so the promotion of such talented people is important to us,” says Lusty. One of them is Réka Bucsi, Hungarian filmmaker and winner of the Audi Short Film Award 2018. At the Berlinale Open House Program on February 10, she will talk to Jeffrey Bowers, head curator of the streaming platform Vimeo and member of the International Short Film Jury 2019, about her journey and the response in various countries to her winning film, Solar Walk.

Audi once again designed the festival bag for this year’s Berlinale and produced 27,000 of them. “For all film lovers, the bag has established itself as a cult accessory in Berlin and symbolizes that film and Berlin belong together also beyond the festival period,” says Kosslick.

In 2020, Audi will once again be a principal sponsor of the Berlinale for the 70th anniversary of the festival. The automobile manufacturer and the Berlinale have extended their cooperation by another year.

Note:
Current information on the program items and exact times of the Berlinale Open House Program in the Audi Berlinale Lounge can be found at audi.de/open-house. The opening times are from 7 p.m. to midnight on February 7, from 2 p.m. to midnight on February 8 to 15, and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 16.

Tickets for films at the 69th International Film Festival Berlin will be available daily as of February 4, 2019 between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Berlinale box office at Audi City Berlin, Kurfürstendamm 195, 10707 Berlin. More information can be found at: https://www.audi-city.com/berlin/berlinale/kartenvorverkauf-berlinale/

Current photo material and further information on Audi’s involvement in the 69th Berlinale can be found during the film festival at https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/de/berlinale-297. 

With Audi on demand in Barcelona, customers select their desired Audi from a range of current models, book it online on www.es.audiondemand.com/book and pick it up from the retailer “Superwagen Sant Cugat.” The booking period is between one hour and 28 days.

The Spanish Audi partner is thus following the example of eight dealerships in the United Kingdom. Last year, they integrated the digital service into their business operations for the first time. “Our experiences in the UK have been excellent. We are therefore looking forward to the roll-out of this product in another European market”, stated Bettina Bernhardt, Manager of Audi Business Innovation (ABI) GmbH. “This will open up further sources of revenue and a completely new digital business segment for the retailers.” With Audi on demand, dealerships gain additional customer groups and sales opportunities, utilize their own vehicle fleets more efficiently and increase their flexibility through used-car marketing. Payment depends, among other things, on the number of bookings and customer satisfaction. 

Audi is promoting the integration of Audi on demand into the retail business and is offering its partner companies’ comprehensive support. The all-round package includes the development of the IT infrastructure and marketing support, as well as the establishment of operational processes. In addition, during the course of the year, customers will be able to access the entire Audi on demand fleet in Europe with just one online registration. The company continues to expand Audi on demand worldwide.

Right from the outset, the new electric racing car featuring the Motor Generator Unit (MGU) developed jointly by Audi and technology partner Schaeffler was the car to beat under very difficult conditions. Lucas di Grassi promptly posted the fastest time in the first free practice session on the new street circuit in Santiago’s O’Higgins Park. Both drivers in the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team qualified in the top six for the Super Pole qualifying, where Lucas di Grassi managed to drive “the best lap” of his Formula E career. With an impressive margin of 0.526 seconds, the Brazilian distanced himself from the rest of the field.

Taking up the race from the third grid spot, teammate Daniel Abt secured third place in scorching temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius in the shade at the wheel of his Audi e-tron FE05, and thus the first podium for the title defenders Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in the 2018/2019 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season. Abt also earned the extra point for the fastest race lap.

“That was an incredibly tough race,” said Abt. “It was extremely hot out there. But sometimes you just have to stay cool, and that’s what we did today. This first podium of the season is really important for our team. Our squad works hard and more than deserves this result. We’ve underlined that we’re making progress and are on the right track. And we’ll continue to fight.”

Due to a rule infraction during the in-lap of the previous group qualifying, Lucas di Grassi was relegated from pole position to start from the back of the grid. In the race, the Brazilian fought his way up the field from twenty-second position on the grid into ninth place, only to receive a time penalty as a result of a collision, which threw him back to twelfth.

“Today we saw many drivers making mistakes in very tough conditions,” said Allan McNish, Team Principal of Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. “I’m very proud of Daniel (Abt). After a strong qualifying performance under difficult conditions, he drove a clean race from start to finish and brought home the first podium result of the season for our team. A superb job! Lucas (di Grassi) had to fight his way back up from the very back of the field after his problem in qualifying and unfortunately didn’t score any points this time.”