The Volkswagen Group subsidiary Elli unveiled a ground-breaking research project at the Hannover Messe that aims to transform energy-autonomous charging for electric cars (EVs). The initiative is a partnership with the Technical University of Braunschweig and the maker of aerial wind turbines, EnerKíte. The project, which is being carried out at Wolfsburg’s Open Hybrid LabFactory Campus and is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, offers a novel solution to problems encountered by e-vehicle owners in remote areas. It also greatly diversifies energy production and charging infrastructure.
The creative idea makes use of advanced kites that can capture strong, consistent winds at high altitudes and turn them into electrical power. Elli’s Flexpole fast charger uses this renewable energy to store it, allowing for a consistent and grid-independent power source for EV charging. During her visit to the Hannover Messe, Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger praised the cooperation between academia, business, and the startup scene, recognising its potential to address significant issues in the e-mobility sector and advance the energy transition.
Volkswagen Group Charging (Elli) Chief Technical Officer Mark Möller stressed the initiative’s importance in expanding the definition of electromobility. He emphasised how the Flexpole, which is now on the market, can assist this innovative endeavour by including innovative technologies to make a sustainable contribution to the mobility of the future.
Florian Breipohl, CEO of EnerKíte, 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), EnerKíte, 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.
