Audi e-tron GT with CO₂-reduced Wheels

The innovative ELYSIS™ melting process releases oxygen instead of CO₂. RONAL GROUP equips the Audi e-tron GT with the world's first wheels produced in this way.

ELYSIS™ process and Alcoa’s low-carbon EcoLum™ aluminum lead to a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the wheels for the Audi e-tron GT.

OXYGEN INSTEAD OF CARBON

The Audi e-tron GT has been on the market since May 2021 – Audi's first fully electric Gran Turismo. Within the framework of a pilot project, RONAL GROUP supplies 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels for the e-tron GT, which, to reduce weight, are produced using flowforming technology. For production, Alcoa supplies RONAL GROUP with aluminum produced using the ELYSIS™ process. In contrast to the conventional process, the innovative melting technology does not emit any direct CO₂. All greenhouse gas emissions are eliminated and, by using inert anodes, pure oxygen is released. The wheels are produced using 100% green electricity at the Landau site in Germany. The total gas consumption there is also compensated by securitized CO₂-reduction rights.

SMALL CARBON FOOTPRINT

ELYSIS™ process and Alcoa’s low-carbon EcoLum™ aluminum lead to a significant reduction in the carbon footprint of the wheels for the Audi e-tron GT. EcoLum™ is primary aluminum with no more than 4.0 metric tons of CO₂ emission for every ton of metal produced. This value contains direct and indirect (Scope 1 and Scope 2) emissions over the entire production chain, including bauxite mining and alumina refining.

“The ELYSIS™ process is promising because it already takes effect in the raw material processing phase.”

A PROMISING PROCESS

Marco Philippi, Head of Strategy Procurement at Audi, says: “The ELYSIS™ process is promising because it already takes effect in the raw material processing phase. We also appreciate that RONAL GROUP produces the wheels with 100% green energy. All this allows us to increase our sustainability performance in the supply chain and to ensure that our models arrive at the customers with a smaller carbon footprint.”

100% ASI CERTIFIED

Alcoa, Audi and RONAL GROUP are members of the Aluminum Stewardship Initiative (ASI). The non-profit organization brings together producers, users and stakeholders in the Al value chain and works to maximize aluminum's contribution to a sustainable society. For the first time, certification in line with the ASI standard pools ethical, ecological and social aspects along the entire value chain. Today, RONAL GROUP already sources 100% of its aluminum from ASI members.