Voltage spike at 2017 Frankfurt auto show

Judging by the wares on display at September's 2017 Frankfurt auto show, electrification suddenly is the watchword in Germany-or the watchword, at least, for some indeterminate date in the future. Because none attending the show could escape the irony that while nearly every major German manufacturer's Frankfurt effort centered on an electric vehicle, many of the show's current or near-future production models remained resolutely diesel-powered.

Audi's AIcon (combining “artificial intelligence” and “concept”) was the company's vision of SAE Level 5 autonomy-it has no steering wheel or pedals. The EV architecture permits generous interior space for four passengers, Audi said, as did the concept car's 136.6-in (3470-mm) wheelbase and 82.6-in (2098-mm) width. Audi said projected power from the solid-state batteries (another buzz technology cropping up at Frankfurt) is 260 kW (248 hp) and 405 lb·ft (549 N·m) dispersed to an electric motor driving each wheel. The German makers also were touting new 800-volt charging technology and Audi said using such a system would deliver 80% of the AIcon's 400 mi-plus driving range in just 30 minutes.