There is something of The Crystal Maze to the day so far.
Running from one vast factory building to another: to one line, where Audi Q8 E-tron doors and wiring looms are fitted to the shell, to another building to witness the 'marriage' of the body to the chassis, to the 'Centre for analysis' to witness lasers analyse panel gaps for accuracy, and then to a junction of avenues that feed traffic through Audi's Brussels plant, where we witness a slow-motion ballet of automated parts-moving machines merging with manned forklifts, as the entire facility synchronises through an everyday symphony of modern manufacturing.
All it would take is for someone to shout "to the Industrial zone!" and then we'd all have to connect a Q8 E-tron wiring loom (all 60kg of it) correctly to release the crystal.
But even the dance of the automated parts machines that roll throughout the facility is not as cool as the very modern-looking rickshaw that awaits us just past row A22. This is no ordinary rickshaw.
This is the combined effort of the Audi Environmental Foundation and German-Indian company Nunam, which specialises in ethical and environmental battery reuse.
Underneath it is a rickshaw frame from the 1970s, but the rest is freshly engineered by Audi trainees in the company's Neckarsulm plant in Germany and majors on recycled or reused parts. Chief among them are four used 2.5kWh lithium ion battery packs that provide a range of 75-90 real-world miles.
Electric rickshaws are nothing new. They're widely used around the world, but most are powered by traditional lead-acid batteries.
Denne historien er fra June 07, 2023-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 07, 2023-utgaven av Autocar UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal