As future challenges for the next upcoming (electric) models, Mr. Perchler describes three major changes that he's expecting:

1. Charging with 400A, 150kW
   
2. Class 5 Plugs
   
3. Cooling for charging lines
   

Matthias Baumgartner

"We've succeeded in our task, but when looking at the numbers, you will see the challenges of the digitization", says Mr. Prechler about the achievements, compared to the previous model:

+11% plugs
+7% contacts
+7% fasteners
+3% total weight
+7% electrical lines
+/- 0% relays
+11% control units

Matthias Baumgartner

„All Audis from the A4 to the A8 share the same basic topology. Only the lengths of the wires differ“, begins Mr. Prechler.

One of the big aims when developing the wire harness is to reduce weight. Here are a few examples what Audi has done in order to achieve that: 0.35mm cables have been replaced by cables with a thickness of 0.13mm, copper cables have been replaced by aluminium with cross-sections of ≥ 2.5mm, the number and position of control units have been optimized and the power supply has been placed with the goal to keep lines as short as possible.

Other challenges have been the replacement of distribution boxes by HV-Splice, the package of 3-phased lines and the acoustic optimization of those 3-phased lines.

Matthias Baumgartner