Audi just opened a futuristic charging hub that runs on recycled second life batteries

The situation is getting better, but charging an EV still takes longer than it takes to fill up the tank of a car with gas, which is why Audi is doing something about it.

The German automaker is pioneering a new type of charging station that runs entirely on recycled batteries.

There aren’t that many, for now, but we’re sure that’s going to change soon.

But there’s another question worth asking.

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Audi wants to expand this network of charging hubs

Audi has opened its first charging hub in Düsseldorf, Germany, not far from the airport.

The goal is to provide a site where you can charge your Audi using high-power charging points with up to 400kW charging capacity.

The cool thing about it is that the whole site runs on recycled batteries.

For now, there are only nine locations, and they’re all situated in German-speaking countries, but we can expect plenty more to open soon.

There’s also another question we’d like to ask, because these chargers are apparently only available to Audi owners for now.

But maybe that’s going to change soon.

Maybe Audi is going to do what Tesla has done and open up these chargers to everyone else.

Automakers are turning this into a marketing opportunity

Tesla was probably the first to pioneer this strategy back when it was still the only EV manufacturer with a proprietary charging network.

Back then, Tesla’s PR and marketing people wouldn’t miss a chance to remind you that Tesla Superchargers were located near hotels and restaurants.

This was marketing, but also a necessity, because EVs took forever to charge back then, and so owners needed something to do.

The situation is much better today, but charging an EV still generally takes longer than filling up the tank of a gas car, and that’s why automakers are doing something about it.

The idea is to create a cool space where you can basically ‘hang out’ while your car is charging.

You still get to enjoy a cup of coffee or buy gadgets or gifts, but the difference is that everything is branded.

Clever and useful.