New R&D Chief at Audi Plans to Add More EVs
Slideshow: New R&D chief will oversee the addition of new Audi electric platforms, and Audi's first self-driving cars.
Audi's New Man
Audi has recently appointed Hans-Joachim Rothenpieler as its new R&D chief, who will be in charge of adding a slew of new EVs to the German manufacturer's already robust lineup.
Rothenpieler has been part of the Volkswagen Group since 1986, previously heading vehicle development at Skoda and leading R&D at Bentley. He has been in charge of quality management for the entire VW Group since 2016.
Keeping Focus
Rothenpieler took over the role of Peter Mertens on November 1, even though Mertens had only been in the position since May 2017. He cited health reasons as the cause of his departure.
“Over the past 16 months, we have initiated a comprehensive transformation at technical development and started the future orientation of the division,” Mertens said in a statement. “This requires a high level of concentration, which I cannot fully manage in my situation. During this time, my health and my family have priority.”
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Brave New World
Following the introduction of Audi's first high-volume electric car in September, Rothenpieler will be tasked with guiding Audi into a brave new world of electrification and self-driving technology. The company has plans to add a wide selection of EVs in the years upcoming, with Audi aiming to debut its first self-driving car, based on the 2017 Aicon concept, by 2021.
The Aicon is fully electric and completely autonomous (level 5,) with the designers going so far as to omit the steering wheel and pedals. Audi believes it will have a fleet of Aicons available to be hailed for rides in busy urban environments.
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Electric Speed
One of the sexier projects potentially on the horizon is the Audi PB18 e-tron concept. The brand first unveiled the 671 hp electric hypercar during the 2018 Monterey Car Week earlier this year, and it features the first solid-state battery from a major car company.
The powertrain features a trio of electric motors drawing power from a 95-kilowatt-hour battery, which would allow for a range of more than 300 miles and could power the car to highway speed in 2 seconds. An 800-volt charging system could top up the battery in 15 minutes.
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Premium Modular Electric
Look for the next installment of the e-tron program to arrive under Audi's Premium Platform Electric program. The modular platform will serve as the underpinning of both Audi and Porsche's electric vehicle programs, and will hopefully offer cost efficiencies like the VW Group's other modular architectures.
In total, Audi will add 10 battery-powered cars over the next seven years, and it hopes 30 percent of its sales will come from electrified vehicles (mild hybrids, hybrids, and pure EVs) by the year 2025.
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