At the Hannover Messe, Volkswagen Group’s subsidiary Elli, in collaboration with airborne wind turbine manufacturer EnerKÃte and the Technical University of Braunschweig, has introduced a groundbreaking research project aimed at revolutionizing energy-autonomous charging for electric vehicles (EVs). The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and coordinated at the Open Hybrid LabFactory Campus in Wolfsburg, presents a pioneering approach that could address challenges faced by e-vehicle users in remote regions and significantly diversify energy generation and charging infrastructure.
The innovative solution leverages high-tech kites capable of harnessing strong and steady high-altitude winds, converting them into electricity. This renewable energy is then stored in Elli’s Flexpole fast-charger, enabling grid-independent and constant power supply for charging EVs. Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, during her visit to the Hannover Messe, commended the collaboration between science, industry, and the startup scene, recognizing its potential to tackle major challenges in the e-mobility sector and drive forward the energy transition.
Mark Möller, Chief Technical Officer of Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli), emphasized the significance of the initiative in redefining the boundaries of electromobility. He highlighted how the Flexpole, already available in the market, can support this groundbreaking project by integrating innovative technologies to make a sustainable contribution to the mobility of the future.
Florian Breipohl, CEO of EnerKÃte, highlighted the potential of their base-load-capable airborne wind turbines in providing constant power, offering a reliable source of electricity with significantly higher yields compared to conventional wind turbines. This breakthrough technology opens up new possibilities for decentralized energy supply and facilitates the adoption of electromobility in previously inaccessible regions.
The project, known as “TechnoHyb,” emerged as part of the BMBF Research Campus Initiative and is showcased at the booth of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the Hannover Messe 2024. Alongside Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli), EnerKÃte, and TU Braunschweig, other key project members include FIT-Umwelttechnik and the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, among others.
The unveiling of this innovative energy-autonomous charging solution marks a significant step forward in the quest for sustainable and accessible e-mobility, promising to reshape the future of transportation and energy infrastructure.
