Twenty units of the Audi A1 e-tron extended range electric vehicle are on the roads of the Munich pilot region in a fleet trial by partners Audi, E.ON, the public utility Stadtwerke München (SwM), and Technische Universität München (TUM). E.ON and SWM are in charge of expanding and maintaining the charging infrastructure in the Munich metropolitan area.
E.ON and SWM have installed a demand-oriented charging infrastructure—SWM within Munich city limits and E.ON primarily in outlying areas. All electric fueling stations offer power generated via renewable energies. This fleet trial is part of the Modellregion Elektromobilität München (Electric Mobility in Munich as a Pilot Region) project, sponsored by Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.
The Ministry is providing the region with some 10 million euro (US$14.2 million) for electric mobility. This project will address a number of issues, ranging from the power grid itself to data transfer between drivers, vehicles, and electric fueling stations. For example, the use of a smartphone as a driver’s main interface will be examined.
The Audi A1 e-tron is an electric car with a range extender. Its output of 75 kW (102 hp) enables the A1 e-tron to reach a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). The battery comprises a package of lithium-ion modules mounted in the floor assembly in front of the rear axle. If the battery runs out of energy, then a compact combustion engine recharges the battery as needed to boost the vehicle’s operating range to as much as 250 km (155 miles). This compact electric car is a zero-emissions vehicle for the first 50 kilometers (31 miles) of a trip.
The four-seat A1 e-tron was designed for daily driving in metropolitan areas. It consumes 1.9 L/100 km (124 mpg US), for a CO2 equivalent of 45 g/km (72.42 g/mile).
TUM is collecting and analyzing data on people’s mobility during the project. In which situations do people drive electric cars and to what degree? And how will this technology influence the use of other means of transportation? To answer these questions, the departments of Automotive Engineering and of Ergonomics have developed a mobile application that all fleet-trial participants can use on their smartphones. More specifically, these devices will thoroughly document participants’ mobility behavior—from their use of bicycles through electric cars and combustion-engine passenger vehicles to buses and trains.
At the same time, the Department of Services Marketing is conducting a study to ascertain suitable models for billing electric-mobility customers.
For researchers, it is no longer a question of whether electric mobility will catch on, but rather when. Electric mobility constitutes a paradigm shift for companies and society alike. This fleet trial allows us to learn more about people’s mobility habits under a new set of circumstances. Insights from this project can then serve as the basis for worthy approaches to sustainable individual mobility.
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