On 9 September 2010 E.ON fired the starting shot for a fleet test with electric cars in the Munich model region together with Audi, Stadtwerke München (SWM) and the Technische Universität München (TUM). Step by step, 20 Audi A1 e-trons will come onto the roads in the region by the middle of next year and 200 new charging stations will be set up. The project is running as part of "Munich Model Region Electro-mobility" under the name "eflott" (efast) supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport. Among others it will look at data transmission between the driver, car and electricity fuel station all the way up to the electricity grid. For this purpose the use of smartphones as a central interface for the driver will be tested, for example.

Klaus-Dieter Maubach Technology Board Member of E.ON AG: "In this project we are extending our electricity fuel stations to existing parking areas in accordance with our findings about user behaviour. For example, we are equipping private garages and car parks with charging facilities. In this way we want to further develop charging point technology and especially communication with grid operators, thus consolidating our leading role in developing electricity fuel stations. After all, intelligent charging points are more than just electricity fuel stations: They are the pre-condition for using vehicle batteries as interim storage for renewable energies in the intelligent electricity grids of the future."

The Audi A1 e-tron

The A1 e-tron is a Mega City Vehicle (MCV) with electric drive. Its range in city traffic is over 50 kilometres. The maximum output of the vehicle is 75 kW (102 bhp). If the battery runs out of energy a compact combustion engine recharges the battery. Its top speed is over 130 km/h. For the first 50 kilometres it drives, such as in city traffic, the compact MCV produces no emissions. A package of lithium ion modules acts as the battery, set in front of the rear axle in the undercarriage. In exceptions a compact single disc Wankel engine increases the range of this model, which is very close to the series range. This so-called Extender operates a generator, which produces a charging output of 15 kW. When it recharges the battery the A1 e-tron can reach an additional range of 200 kilometres. According to the draft for standardisation to determine the consumption of Range Extender vehicles their fuel consumption is 1.9 l per 100 kilometres - equivalent to CO2 emissions of just 45 g/km. E.ON and SWM are installing the necessary charging infrastructure, E.ON primarily in the surrounding area, SWM in the Bavarian capital. In total the two energy providers are each setting up 100 "electricity fuel stations". All charging stations are fed with electricity acquired from renewable energies.

Scientific activities

The TU Munich will comprehensively record and evaluate mobility behaviour during the course of the project: how much and in which situations is an electric car used? And what influence do they have on the use of other methods of transport? To clarify these questions the Chair of Vehicle Technology has developed a mobile application that all participants in the fleet test will get on a smartphone. The device will record all their mobility behaviour - from the bicycle, e-car and conventional car up to the bus and train. To ensure that the participants also use the smartphone permanently the Chair of Ergonomics has created a design that is convenient and will sustain motivation for the application. Simultaneously the Chair of Marketing is preparing a study that will reveal which billing model for the electricity used by e-mobility achieves greatest customer acceptance.
"From a research point of view the question is not if but only when electro-mobility establishes itself. Electro-mobility means a paradigm change for industry and society. It is thus a central strategic focal point of the TUM," said Professor Wolfgang A. Herrmann, President of the TU Munich. "The Electro-Mobility Science Centre at the TUM combines the expertise of 42 chairs from eight faculties which are contributing to the development of sustainable individual mobility with great commitment."