Our vision: zero emissions

Electric mobility, hydrogen or biomethane drives, natural gas-powered vehicles – we are getting fit for the future with sustainable drives based on a broad range of technologies. For mobility with zero emissions!
The automotive industry is changing. And the requirements are changing along with it. Climate-neutral drives and innovative concepts are becoming increasingly important to our customers. Audi is working hard to find alternative solutions for CO2-neutral mobility.

Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Leiter Entwicklung Antrieb bei Audi
“We are taking a broad approach with the clear vision of ‘Mobility with zero emissions’. There won’t be one definitive drive system in the future. That’s why Audi is working on many other types of potentially climate-neutral driving besides electric mobility.”

Audi produces the fuel e-gas, a synthetic natural gas, from electricity, water, CO 2 and organic raw materials. “Audi e-gas binds nearly the same amount of CO 2 as is emitted by the gas-powered car,” said Ardey. That makes driving with the natural gas-powered models particularly sustainable. In the well-to-wheel analysis, models powered with e-gas emit 80 percent less CO 2 than a gasoline-powered vehicle in the same output class.
Audi is also currently conducting research on synthetic diesel fuel. “In collaboration with our partners INERATEC GmbH and Energiedienst Holding AG, a new pilot plant will produce around 400,000 liters of Audi e-diesel per year. Environmentally friendly hydroelectric power will serve as the energy source,” said Ardey.
The goal is clear: Audi wants to expand its electric fleet. “We will add additional plug-in models to our portfolio in the future. We will launch the production and sale of fully electric cars with a sporty SUV beginning in 2018,” Ardey said.

Dr. Nikolai Ardey, Head of Powertrain Development at Audi
„In the coming decade we want to take electric mobility to the next level with a small-series vehicle with fuel cell. Audi plans to introduce a small-series vehicle with fuel cell early in the next decade. Another step toward a future with zero emissions!“

Electric drive with hydrogen – Audi is also driving this technology forward. After all, no emissions are released here, either. Nothing more than a few drops of water are emitted from the exhaust. The long range and short refueling times make the concept appealing. It takes just four minutes to completely refuel the fifth-generation fuel cell.
Audi Sustainability Report 2017
Sustainability Report 2017
87 pages, EN
9.8 MB