Dec. 23, 2009 

Monday last week we took an early flight to Frankfurt and then were whisked by an expert female driver in a black gleaming Audi A8 to Ingolstadt. After this beautiful high speed drive we met there the engineers who designed and shaped the new Audi A8.

Matthias Müller, Head of the D Series Model Line at Audi and Project Leader of the new Audi A8, opens the very interesting technology conference...  
 

At this Audi Technological Briefing Day, they showed us the “state-of-the art” technical and styling solutions they had worked out for the new Audi flagship.

We could not yet drive the new Audi A8 on the road, but Dr Werner Hamberger, Head of Operating Concept Development, explained us the excellent ergonomics and ease of operation of the new Audi A8, the result of painstaking customer and driver's research...  

Needless to say your servant took some 400-odd pictures and will report at length on the various topics on Audi A8 technology, like for instance Design & Craftmanship, Driving Dynamics, Lightweight construction and efficiency, but also Ease of controls and operation, Driver assistance features and Integrated Safety concepts.

Quite a mouthful! You will read more soon on these pages, where we start with the Design Concept of the new Audi A8, explained to us by Audi Interior Design Manager Jens Sieber.

On December 16 last year the Belgian Federation of Car Traders and Repairers called the motoring press and automotive professionals together for a remarkable conference on Electric Mobility. It is no secret that electric car technology presents no unsurmountable problems for car manufacturers, indeed, car makers like Renault make it seem even a rather effortless affair. The crux of the matter remains battery technology of course, and how to keep the electric cars charged with electric energy in our cities, suburbs and countryside. Setting up the infrastructure needed for this electric mobility is a truly daunting task. Governments need to establish clear master plans to bring the new electric mobility to their citizens, and promote the industry.

Setting up the appropriate infrastructure to keep electric vehicles charged in cities and extra-urban areas is a challenge which European governments will have to tackle together with manufacturers...

Federauto appealed to the Belgian government to put forward a clear masterplan. Also the Flemish, Brussels and Walloon regions need to play their role here.

Also decisive and important measures have to be taken urgently by Federal and regional governemens to attract electric car manufacturing and research to our regions, creating also new activities for our Belgian automotive suppliers’ industry.

Federauto made a strong appeal to establish a working platform with the respective Belgian authorities to discuss challenges and opportunities and to work out a projection about where Belgium wants to be with its Electric Mobility in 2020. The neighboring countries have already made these projections and studies. This platform, christened FEDERAUTO Electric Mobility, was put in the spotlight at this conference. Federauto also works closely together with the European interest group AVERE (the European Association for Battery, Hybrid and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles) where the Brussels VUB University is a driving and inspiring force.  

The conference was well-attended by both motoring press and automotive sector professionals and representatives.

Concerning car distribution, Federauto wants also to play a facilitating role for all the car professionals who take initiatives in the distribution and maintenance of electric cars. Through her training institute EDUCAM, Federauto wants to offer training to present and future technical personnel who will deal with these electric cars...