Conserving natural resources has become one of Audi’s top priorities when it comes to their production process. They understand that when effeciency is maximized they will also reap cost savings. Using logistics software such as PackAssistant allows Audi to save almost 20% in shipping costs by reducing the overall number of shipments that they receive from various manufacturers throughout production. To show Audi’s commitment to the environment, they have pledged to cut their carbon dioxide emmisions by 30 percent by 2020 (this is a 30% reduction based on their 1990 carbon emmissions). Although the quantity of automobiles produced by Audi has risen in the past years, they have been able to keep overall energy usage at the same level, which is yet another example of Audi’s green-ness.

Audi Auto Group is choosing rising standards in logistics since this particular German auto manufacturer is using “green electricity” to move their cars from their Ingolstadt manufacturing plant all the way over to the North Sea loading port of Emden. This makes Audi the first company in Germany to fully take advantage of green electricity in this part of the production process. The progressive logistics concept is an advanced step for the car industry and a valuable facet of Audi’s strategy of assurance that production is sustainable in every way imaginable.

This CO2-free train rail freight moves concept Eco Plus is a recent request from the logistics area of German railway operator Deutsche Bahn: DB Schenker. Transporting vehicles within the nation’s existing network of rails, the energy demanded is satisfied entirely by German renewable green energy. The electricity is acquired in addition to by Deutsche Bahn which means that emissions remain avoided from the get go. The TVSD has approved Eco Plus from DB Schenker and the energy supply network. Currently, about 18 and a half percent of the German railway system utilizes green electricity. The Eco Plus company feeds this green energy into the German railroad power grid. Typically rail power is provided in one of these following forms:

• Natural Gas
• Nuclear Power
• Coal

Since rail transport cannot be the exclusive means of transportation, Audi utilizes a group network called The Logistics Center GVZ to ensure that all trucks on the road are full before hitting the pavement, thus increasing overall effeciency. This results in less carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere. Other Audi suppliers also utilize the same Logistics company to contribute to this environment consious effort.

Audi is setting new standards in responsible electricity consumption for their vehicle transport through Germany within the highly saturated car manufacturing business. DB Shenker is partnering up with Audi to enable green electricity for their railways. The benefit is immediately obvious: reduction of carbon dioxide emmisions which are harmful to the environment. This move by Audi will affect almost 70% of their vehicles since in addition to fully assembled cars, they will also be able to utilize this green transportation to move large components to different plants. The assembly of the Audi TT is an excellent example of moving large pieces of a vehicle through a massive assembly line that is powered by a green railway. Instead of shipping the partially assembled TTs via truck, Audi saves money and the environment by using green electricity. The frames of the Audi TT are moved to another plant where the body panels are attached, and then the TT returns to the original plant. Yet another plant is responsible for engine assembly so there is more transport of large materials involved. Audi has reduced Co2 emmisions by about 36 thousand tons by using the green rail system and eliminating over 325 thousand truck trips which is the equivilent of ten million kilometers by rail.

Audi has also invested in technology that increases energy efficiency of their auto manufacturing plants. For example, robots can be made to work more efficiently and tools as simple as welding tongs can make a difference. One of the coolest ways that Audi ‘recycles’ power is by using energy from testing that would otherwise be wasted. When testing engines, the motors produce energy, which they smartly feed back into the assembly plant’s energy grid! They also take advantage of ‘waste heat’ which is the heat that is a byproduct from one plant. Audi can use this heat energy and effectively convert it into useable power to reduce CO2 waste.

Tags: Audi