In a further sign of the shift in automotive industry’s focus, Audi has opened a high-tech, $65-million technical center in Ingolstadt, Germany to be used exclusively for the development of electric drive systems.
Some 840 engineers will be working at the facility to develop electric drive systems and battery technology.
Audi will launch a hybrid version of the Q5 compact SUV early next year and says its R8 e-tron electric sports car is on-schedule for launch in 2012.
A current challenge for all automotive companies pursuing the development of electric and hybrid vehicles, is achieving optimum performance in temperatures that start at sub-zero but then warm to above freezing during the day. The Audi facility includes a deep-freeze test rig capable of operating in a range from –40 degrees to +60 degrees centigrade.
