Hannover Messe 2024: Pioneering Research Project – Charging Electric Vehicles with Wind Energy
Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli ), EnerKíte, TU Braunschweig, and other project partners are researching an energy-autonomous charging solution for e-mobility.High-tech kites harvest high-altitude winds and convert them into electricity, which can be stored in innovative battery systems and used to charge EVs.Federal Minister Stark-Watzinger: "Strong network of competencies for the energy transition."
Volkswagen Group's subsidiary Elli , airborne wind turbine manufacturer EnerKíte, and the Technical University of Braunschweig present groundbreaking research at the Hannover Messe, which could enable energy-autonomous charging for electric vehicles in the future. High-tech kites "harvest" strong and steady high-altitude winds, converting them into electricity. The energy is stored in Elli's Flexpole fast-charger and can be used to charge EVs. The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and coordinated at the Open Hybrid LabFactory Campus in Wolfsburg.
During her visit to the Hannover Messe, Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger learned about the cooperation project between science, industry and the start-up scene, whose research approach could solve a major problem for e-vehicle users in remote regions of the world and has enormous potential for the diversification of energy generation and charging infrastructure. Renewable energy sources are volatile, leading to higher costs for storage systems and network infrastructure. The collaboration between EnerKíte's base-load-capable airborne wind turbines and Elli's charging and storage technology enables grid-independent and constant power supply, even in remote regions. The new Elli Flexpole can be easily and flexibly installed as a fast-charging station and connected to the low-voltage grid thanks to its integrated battery system, without the need for a special transformer or expensive construction work.
„Charging Site Management” – Elli launches new commercial product
Elli’s all-new product Charging Site Management bundles planning, construction, and operation of charging infrastructure at company sites together with charging hardware and digital software. Autobahn GmbH des Bundes commissions Elli to supply Flexpoles for loading the company's own fleet. Elli’s product range benefits from its extensive experience in charging site management at Volkswagen Group locations. In total, Elli has been operating over 8,200 charging points at 23 Volkswagen plants and 1,500 retail locations since 2020 and has developed a deep understanding of the specific requirements and challenges that companies and their fleets face in the transition to electric mobility.
The electrification of fleets is a key step in the mobility transition, and with it comes the demand for innovative B2B charging solutions that ensure smooth operation of their business activities. With Charging Site Management, Volkswagen Group subsidiary Elli is launching a completely new B2B product that offers AC and DC charging hardware (including Elli Flexpole, Elli Charger and additional charging hardware from selected partners), integrated software solutions (including Elli Site Management Console and Elli Fleet Management Console), as well as extensive consulting functions. The software solutions focus on a simple plug and play concept and offer all features for the operation of charging infrastructures, including load management. Users have the option of making important changes for their operations at any time via dashboards (e.g. usage periods, average capacity utilization).
"We are very proud to now offer companies a customized charging product that relies on state-of-the-art hardware and software solutions. Charging Site Management is a modular product portfolio for fleet operators. Companies choose the scope of charging solutions according to their individual needs," explains Michael Gotthelf, Vice President Elli Commercial.
New partnership with SIXT – Elli opens its charging network to external partners
For the first time, Elli is providing its European charging network and digital mobility services to companies outside the Volkswagen GroupIn partnership with Elli , the premium mobility provider SIXT launched its new app-integrated solution for a seamless charging experience across EuropeGiovanni Palazzo: “Collaborative innovations are a major step for Elli as one of the leading charging and energy companies.”
Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli ) opened its large European charging network to mobility companies outside the Volkswagen Group for the first time. With Elli's extensive charging infrastructure and innovative digital mobility solutions, customers can now enjoy seamless access to a vast and high-quality charging network across Europe. The new product SIXT charge simplifies the entire charging experience: from access to Elli`s charging network to find charge points, starting and ending charging sessions, and complete billing and payment.
"This collaboration with SIXT represents a pivotal step towards making electric mobility more accessible and convenient for everyone. The mobility transition requires us to rethink conventional industry paradigms and embrace sustainability as a guiding principle. By opening our premium charging ecosystem to mobility companies outside the Volkswagen Group, we are breaking down barriers and making electric mobility more accessible to a wider audience", says Giovanni Palazzo, CEO Elli . Nico Gabriel, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sixt SE: “By launching our new app-integrated charging solution SIXT charge we are making charging as easy and seamless as possible. Together with our partner Elli , we are dedicated to making sustainable mobility accessible for even more people. With one single login in the SIXT app, our customers can take full advantage of extensive EV charging features across Europe as well as the entire SIXT ecosystem of mobility offerings.”
Volkswagen Group Technology
Group Technology’s duties include building up global battery cell production via PowerCo SE, as well as expanding the worldwide quick-charging network through the brands Elli , Electrify America and CAMS. Group Technology comprises a total of four pillars. In addition to Battery and Charging & Energy, Volkswagen Group Components is a technology supplier of innovative technical components, while Platform Business is responsible for cooperation with external partners such as Ford or Mahindra. This makes Group Technology a strong driver on the path toward sustainable, future-fit mobility, and opens up new, highly attractive profit pools for the Group.
The four divisions of Group Technology
GroupComponents In more than 60 plants at 45 sites our colleagues are making an important contribution to the competitive position and future sustainability of the Volkswagen Group, its brands, and products with technical components such as the electric drive, electric motor, gearbox, as well as axles and steering systems.
Group Platform Business The Volkswagen Group also shares its leading platforms and components with external companies. Its strategic partners include the Ford Motor Company and the Indian automotive manufacturer, Mahindra. You can find more information about Platform Business here: VW Platform Business (vw-platform-business.com)
Group Charging & Energy Elli , Electrify America and CAMS, consolidate all Volkswagen Group activities relating to charging infrastructure, smart energy solutions, charging hardware, and charging services. In addition to home chargers and the flexible fast-charging station Flexpole, the division is continuously expanding its charging and energy services such as public charging, green energy, and energy management.
GroupBattery PowerCo SE is responsible for the Group’s global battery activities, and ensures the supply of battery cells for the electric mobility campaign.
ID. Buzz Pro - Electricity consumption in kWh/100 km: combined 21.8-20.6; CO₂ emissions combined in g/km: 0; only consumption and emission values according to WLTP and not according to NEDC are available for the vehicle. Fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions data with ranges depending on the selected equipment of the vehicle.
Status: 2023-06-12
Nature
The Volkswagen subsidiary Elli is one of the largest mobility service providers in Europe. Elli already offers its customers access to more than 600,000 charging points. In addition to the Volkswagen Group's electric offensive, we are increasingly focusing on integrating electricity generated from renewable sources into the utilization phase and converting the entire power supply at our plants to renewable energies. The following examples of wind and solar parks already exist or are supported by the Volkswagen Group: wpd wind farm Aldermyrberget in Skellefteå, Sweden, Volkswagen Melč-Moravice Wind Park, Czech Republic, ŠKO-ENERGO, s.r.o. Solar system at the plant in Pune, India, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Photovoltaic modules on the production/logistics buildings in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, Škoda SEAT al Sol at the production sites in Martorell, El Prat and Barcelona, Spain, SEAT S.A. Photovoltaic system at the Września plant, Poland, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Electrify America Solar Glow™ 1 – 75MW photovoltaic project in San Bernardino County, USA
Anchoring Environmental Protection in Manufacturing: "Zero Impact Factory" The vision of the “Zero Impact Factory” describes a factory that produces in a climate-, resource- and environmentally friendly manner and thus avoids environmental impacts in vehicle and component production. The “Zero Impact Factory” envisions an idealized ecological factory implemented through our strategic processes across brands and sites. A systematic and method-based approach is used in order to measure and control the ecological transformation. More information about the project can be found here.
Promoting Local Biodiversity In addition to supporting conservation projects around the world, we have set ourselves the target of increasing biodiversity at and around our production sites as well.