Audi previews lightweight electric city car concept
Carbon fibre 1+1 to appear at Frankfurt IAA
- Published in News.
Two is the magic number: Audi EV concept is powered by a pair of motors and has 1+1 seating
Audi will show off its latest electric vehicle concept at the IAA in September. In 2009 the R8 e-tron was on the stand: this year it's a more relevant two-seat city car.
With a carbon fibre reinforced plastic body, 1+1 seating layout and a lithium ion battery powering two motors, the vehicle details the OEM's thinking for an EV to fit below the range-extended A1 e-tron currently under development.
Audi said: "The urban concept car is not descended from any previous model – its development is based on the strict principles of lightweight construction and efficiency. The result is a concept with no unnecessary weight."
The seat bases have been integrated into the composite body to save weight and simplify assembly. The pedals adjust to make the seating position more ergonomic.
Audi formed a partnership this year with materials supplier Voith to develop composites, including carbon composites, and wants to use these, and aluminium, to replace some of the steel in its vehicles' body-in-white structures.
BMW's i3 Megacity vehicle concept, which also has a carbon composite body, has been shown with both purely electric and range-extended powertrains. BMW has formed a joint-venture with SGL carbon to develop composites.
Sitting comfortably: seat bases are integral with carbon fibre body; pedals and wheel adjust
