AUDI has powered up a concept which may give a perception of future charging stations for electric vehicles.
This decision was made to heighten public awareness of forthcoming electromobility challenges.
Electromobility may be a word that acts like a dagger of ice in the heart of the dedicated petrolhead, but the Audi vision of pulling in to recharge its Audi e-tron electric car may be a rejuvenating experience for the driver.
A highlight of this month’s Design Miami exhibition, the ‘e-den’ installation is the work of Munich-based design studio Mirko Borsche, and focuses on the fact that because electric cars need longer to 'refuel' the traditional service station must pay heed to the fact that drivers and passengers also need a place to charge their own batteries while they wait with armchairs books, refreshments etc.
Sounds like Utopia unlimited to me but will it really be like this? There have been many ideas over recharging for cars – especially an electric 'pad' in the driveway which locks on to the car overnight. However the oh-so-clever boffins forgot the poor old moggie who likes to sleep under the warm engine and could end up having an electrifying experience.
But Audi have it right up to a point. The days of a quick splash and dash will be gone for ever and we will all be milling around service stations waiting to get the green light for another limited-range zoom. Not a totally bad situation you might think, but imagine the queues, especially in places like the M5 in the West Country in the holiday season.
Audi says its vision is food for thought and I truly hope it works out as they envisage. But for someone who always takes heed of the harsh light of reality the true picture may be a little different. Cars taking ages to charge, massive queues at service stations, expensive refreshments for a captive audience and frustrated drivers at the roadside running out of electric miles could be a fact.
Suddenly the vision of a frustrated Basil Fawlty whipping his sparked-out car springs to mind.