Audi has been quietly going about the business of preparing its lineup for a green future, with cleaner and more efficient diesels in Europe, and oil-burners scheduled for the US in the near future. While the German automaker realizes diesel will be big in the next 10 years, it's also planning for life without emissions. Audi exec Rupert Stadler says the four-ringed automaker is primed to offer an electric vehicle in the next five to ten years. Meanwhile, Audi's German competition has been talking up its green position, but Stadler points out that the Volkswagen-owned brand has more research resources to exercise its options. With the emissions belt being tightened both here in the US and in Europe, every automaker is going to have to make huge changes to its vehicles to stay in the game, and Audi is no different. We're going to be the big winners during these changing times, and while a battery-powered R8 won't sound as good as its petrol-powered twin, we like the idea of plugging in our sports car instead of filling it with gas every few days.
[Source: Reuters]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
geo.stewart @ May 5th 2008 8:37AM
Hate to sound green but is there much difference between coal-driven electricity and oil as far as carbon footprint?
I love fast cars, sharp looking and good handling autos but at the end of the day, why does it take 1.5 tons of metal to move a 200lb person commuting to work? does it even make sense?
I still turn to the 3-wheeling VW that never was. stick a lightweight roof on it and that goes a long way to what the future needs to look like in 10-20 yrs.
Ted @ May 5th 2008 8:44AM
geo.stewart, you are correct - carbon is carbon regardless of the source.
With viable electric vehicles, and an upgraded electrical transmission infrastructure, the source of the electricity can be made green with a little effort.
Wind, hydro, solar, and even (gasp!) nuclear can be drop in replacements for coal fired electricity - where appropriate.
Our current thirst for oil can not be easily replaced thanks to the gasoline powered vehicles on the market. Widespread availability of electric vehicles makes the transition to alternative energy sources much easier.
-ted
FSM @ May 5th 2008 8:49AM
I do agree that there is still emissions being created when you plug in your car versus using gas however consider the following:
1. It takes energy to pump oil out of the ground
2. It takes energy to move said oil to a refinery
3. It takes energy to refine the oil into gasoline
4. It takes energy to move the gasoline to pumps
now look at a plug in car
1. It takes energy to dig up coal
2. It takes energy to move said coal to the power plant
Getting your energy from a centralized source such as a power plant grid versus thousands of little gas stations already save tons of wasted energy. Now instead of coal being used at those power plants, imagine nuclear energy or even better solar, wind, tidal or other alternative forms of energy that are indeed emissions free.
Seoultrain @ May 5th 2008 8:58AM
I would think a coal power plant is much more efficient than a small gasoline engine that has to deal with varying loads, but I'm not sure. Maybe someone else can enlighten us with ballpark figures?
nikola @ May 5th 2008 12:21PM
The difference is there are other sources of electricity besides coal, dweeb. More markets continue to open up to WIND power and even other sources.
Not only that, but with advances in solar energy, in a few years it will be as easy to switch to FREE energy with the jerk of a plug. You can't exactly do that with a gas tank, can you?
Mallory @ May 5th 2008 12:23PM
"is there much difference between coal-driven electricity and oil as far as carbon footprint?"
Yes, quite a bit.
"why does it take 1.5 tons of metal to move a 200lb person commuting to work?"
You'll find very few cars as light as 1.5 tons. A better question might be "why does it take 3 tons of Expedition metal to move a 160lb person commuting to work?"
yacoub @ May 5th 2008 8:37AM
This sounds like the punchline to a joke, given VAG's notorious electrical systems.
Bill Montgomery @ May 5th 2008 4:47PM
Meh! I've had 7 "recent" Audis since 1997 and none (not one) has had a single problem, much less anything electrical. Time to move forward out of the early 80's buddy... It's that sort of closed-mind thinking that got us into Iraq. The rest of the world buy Audis like they're going out of style and production can't even meet demand. Maybe if many Americans didn't spend 40-50 hours a week watching television they would understand there is a world out there besides 'just' the (US)
Quattroporte @ May 5th 2008 8:38AM
But their V8s sound so good.
dr61 @ May 5th 2008 12:20PM
Coal generated electricity powering an electric car IS much more efficient than a gasoline powered car, and produces much less CO2. However in my area coal accounts for 15% of electric power, with 50% from hydro and wind.
nagmashot @ May 5th 2008 12:23PM
Volkswagen already sold a all electric powered Golf MK III long time ago..
Called Golf 3 Citystromer... produced in 1995 it was the first true production electric car (small scale). They sold 120 Citystromer during a time no one was thinking about zerro emission vehicles..
http://www.alles-golf.de/data/media/28/40932.020b.jpg
http://www.alles-golf.de/data/media/28/03.jpg
http://www.alles-golf.de/data/media/28/CitySTROMer.jpg
Mallory @ May 5th 2008 12:25PM
10 years huh. Don't strain yourself.
Dad @ May 5th 2008 4:10PM
"Audi to offer electric vehicles within ten years"
If GM said electric in 10 years, the uproar would be deafening. But the double standrd is alive and well.
Adrian @ May 9th 2008 7:35AM
It is a Chop of a member of forocoches.com ;)