With electromobility into a more sustainable future.
More about sustainability at Audi:
Frequently asked questions about sustainability
As the heart of the electric car, our batteries are designed for premium quality, safety and all-round vehicle life. The reconstituted batteries from our plug-in hybrid models or the pre-production Audi e-tron vehicles, for example, are currently recycled by various recycling companies in accordance with the relevant legal requirements in the markets.
By 2025, every third Audi sold should be electrified. Therefore, the need for batteries will continue to increase. Audi is committed to making the life cycle of these batteries as sustainable as possible and has been an active member of the Global Battery Alliance since 2017. The main focus of the alliance is on safeguarding human rights and social standards when mining raw materials as well as on developing solutions for recycling lithium-ion batteries. Audi is also entering into research partnerships, for example, with the recycling group Umicore, in order to develop a cycle for components of high-voltage batteries, which could then be re-used over and over again. The used batteries are also given a "second life" like this at the main plant in Ingolstadt, where they are currently being used to drive forklifts and tractors on a trial basis. "Every lithium-ion battery contains a lot of energy and valuable resources that need to be used in the best possible way," says Peter Kössler, Executive Director of Production and Logistics at AUDI AG. That is why Audi is also thinking of a sensible second-use concept for batteries when it comes to electromobility.
Aluminium is also used in Audi batteries – namely, in their housing. The light metal is obtained from bauxite by means of intensive energy use. In order to save resources and energy, Audi has started the Aluminium Closed Loop project. Offcuts are sent back to suppliers and reprocessed. Audi was the first automobile manufacturer to be awarded the sustainability certificate from the Aluminium Stewardship Initiative (ASI), for the sustainable production of its battery housing. Further information can be found at: https://aluminium-stewardship.org/
Like all vehicles registered in Germany and Europe, electric cars guarantee the highest level of safety. Both the fire hazard and the risk of electric shock are avoided by special safety systems. In the event of an accident or defect, the flow of current in the battery is immediately interrupted so that there is no longer any voltage. In addition, the battery is built into a large, crash-proof block in the underbody, where it is protected against deformation. Tests by the ADAC on the Audi e-tron GT concept vehicle have repeatedly shown that the risk of fire in e-cars is just as low as with combustion engines. The charging process is completely harmless at all times, and can also be carried out without any problems in the rain. You can also drive your Audi e-tron into the car wash without hesitation. Further information can be found in this ADAC test report: https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/elektromobilitaet/info/sicherheit-elektroauto/
The Audi e-tron received the highest rating of five stars in the Euro NCAP test (for more information, visit: https://www.euroncap.com/de/results/audi/e-tron/35869). Euro NCAP is the leading European programme for assessing the safety of cars. In the USA, the Audi e-tron was the first electric car to receive the highest safety award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (further information can be found at: https://www.iihs.org/news/detail/2019-audi-e-tron-earns-institutes-highest-award).
