Audi simulates to better recharge

Audi innovates with a global electric grid simulator to optimize the charging of its electric vehicles

Audi takes a major step in the development of electric mobility by commissioning an electric grid simulator at its Electric Charging Research Center in Ingolstadt. This unique facility replicates the characteristics of electrical grids from different countries, allowing for testing vehicle charging under realistic conditions.

With voltage variations (110 to 230 volts) and frequency (50 or 60 hertz), electrical grids differ significantly across regions of the globe. Audi can thus simulate the electric environments of the United States, China, or Europe, among others, thanks to this flexible 500 kW simulator. Designed by Bosch Rexroth in collaboration with Schmidbaur, it supports a wide range of voltages (100 to 540 volts) and frequencies (40 to 65 hertz), as well as different types of grids (single-phase, two-phase, and three-phase).

Audi reinvents the universal charger

These tests allow engineers to assess the compatibility of charging stations with Audi models in simulated local conditions. The results are directly integrated into the development of embedded software, ensuring an optimal, fast, and secure charging experience for users, regardless of their location.

By reducing the need for costly and complex tests abroad, Audi gains efficiency while improving the quality of its products. “With the simulator, we can ensure that our vehicles perfectly adapt to global electrical infrastructures,” says Daniel Ettinger, project leader. An intelligent approach in a new electric world that is still seeking a universal standard.

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