Maintaining its focus on sustainability as the new luxury, Audi at the GreenTech Festival 2022 — Europe’s biggest gathering for green innovation, inspiration, and ideas — presented the various way it is integrating sustainability into every area of its operations by launching the Audi Sustainability Hub.
As a founding partner of the GreenTech Festival, Audi showcased the fully electric e-tron GT, its circular economy strategy, charging hub, and sustainable practices in production and supply chain at its exhibition space on the grounds of the Berlin Tegel Airport. At the venue, visitors learn about the technologies and concepts Audi developed and put into practice to improve sustainability in its value chain.
The GreenTech Festival 2022, held from June 22 to 26, offered a platform for discussions on sustainable development, climate issues, and environmental protection. More than 100 exhibitors joined Audi in the event with open forums, panel discussions, keynote speeches, and boot camps available for the attendees.
By 2025, Audi plans to have more than 20 fully electric and 10 partially electric models in its lineup. Starting in 2026, the brand will only launch new models that are fully electric. It will phase out production of its internal combustion engines by 2033, and from then on all Audi models will be purely electric.
Fully-electric Audi e-tron GT is produced via net carbon-neutral methods | Photo from Audi Press
Audi also aims to reduce vehicle-specific carbon emissions by 40 percent (compared to 2018 levels) by 2030. The company is intervening in its upstream supply chain processes to reach this goal.
One way Audi is doing this is through its circular economy strategy which is establishing more closed material cycles. Raw materials are reintroduced into the production line, such as discarded auto glass, which Audi then re-processes as windows for the Audi Q4 e-tron.
Audi’s roadmap to sustainable production and logistics targets to have more carbon-neutral production sites by 2025. Audi Hungaria already achieved this in 2020 while Audi Brussels became the world’s first carbon-neutral production plant in the premium segment in 2018. At Audi’s Neckarsulm site, the Audi e-tron GT is produced via net carbon-neutral methods.
Visitors of the Audi driving experience at the GreenTech Festival got to see the fully electric Audi e-tron GT. Combining fascinating design with a powerful fully electric drive, dynamic handling, and a long range, the e-tron GT’s aesthetics arise from efficiency — from the headlights, powerful quattro blisters, wheels, and the large diffuser at the rear. To reduce weight, its outer skin is made from aluminum.
Audi Philippines provides the e-tron range with a complimentary home charging system and supports the models with factory equipment, expertise, and dedicated EV facilities | Photo from Audi Press
Offered as an option for the Audi e-tron GT are leather-free packages. The model’s seats can be upholstered either with a combination of artificial leather and Kaskade or with a mixture of artificial leather and Dinamica. Both Kaskade and Dinamica are made of polyester fibers sourced from plastic bottles, textiles, or residual fibers from selvages. Also available are carpets and mats made from Econyl, a nylon fiber weave derived from surplus fabrics and carpets, and even fishing nets.
Powering the Audi e-tron GT are two electric motors that output 530hp and 630Nm, and are paired with the electric quattro all-wheel-drive system. With a fully charged battery, the e-tron GT can travel as much as 500 kilometers (according to WLTP tests).
The e-tron GT — along with the e-tron SUV, e-tron Sportback SUV, and RS e-tron GT — is available at Audi Philippines. As part of PGA Cars’ “FutureNow” sustainable fully electric mobility program, Audi Philippines provides the e-tron range with a complimentary home charging system, and supports the models with factory equipment, technical expertise, and dedicated electric vehicle facilities. With the e-tron range, Audi Philippines is ushering in the era of premium electromobility in the country.