Ten Prizes for Audi in the Challenge Bibendum
The Challenge Bibendum is the world’s biggest competition for sustainable drive and energy concepts. In 2004 it was held in Shanghai – a symbolic fact given that China currently faces tremendous challenges in the area of mobility. Only eight out of every thousand inhabitants in this country own a car. At the same time, in view of the expected expansion of this market, the sustainable use of energy is essential. AUDI AG entered three vehicles in this fiercely contested competition: the The third car entered in the competition was the A2H2 with fuel cell drive. This model demonstrated just how sporty an extremely environmentally friendly car can be: with the aid of the battery, the hybrid drive system can make up to 115 kW (150 bhp) and 425 Nm of torque available for brief periods. In view of the low weight of the A2, this ensures performance at sports car level. However, the expert way in which Audi combines driving pleasure with economy is best underlined by the ten prizes that the delegation from Ingolstadt, headed by Erich Schmitt, the AUDI AG Board Member responsible for the Chinese market, took home with it. As well as in the category design, the three Audi models were awarded prizes above all for their driving dynamics, driving safety, emission behaviour and fuel consumption. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, the Head of Concept Development – Body, Electrics and Electronics Development, summed up Audi’s involvement: “Our TDI technology is a quick and effective means of drastically reducing China’s carbon dioxide emissions. If China had a similarly high percentage of diesel vehicles to Europe (46 %), then it would be able to reduce its mineral oil imports by about 20 %. The fuel cell, on the other hand, represents a long-term solution for the future.” Erich Schmitt recalled a further important aspect: “The conserving of natural resources has a long tradition at Audi. The protection and preservation of the environment play just as important a role at the Audi production sites as at our head office in Ingolstadt or at Györ in Hungary. |