Fill it up, pay, get on your way. It probably won’t be that easy with electric cars, since charging takes longer than filling up with gasoline or diesel. At the Design Miami show, Audi took a playful look at this aspect: What can drivers do in the meantime? What amenities will charging stations of the future have to offer?
Wood furniture and plants, organic food, magazines and books – this futuristic service station is a wellness oasis featuring fair-trade products and sustainable materials. A real paradise, hence the title of the installation: “e-den.” The “e” stands for electromobility. Munich-based graphic design studio Mirko Borsche created the vision, which is dominated by reflective glass that mirrors the resplendent Audi e-tron Spyder, a study in electric vehicle design. The architecture is also reminiscent of a 1950s American gas station, with an old gasoline pump encased in glass like a museum piece.
Audi has presented four electric vehicle concepts with its e-tron family within just one year – and the small-series, 100% electric Audi R8 e-tron supercar will be on the market in 2012.
A nice thought but I imagine the charging station of the future would be like a motorway services or airport lounge with everything aimed at parting a captive audience with their cash.
If I had that Audi Spyder I would be quite happy to sit and look at it for a few hours while it charged up!