Audi’s pan-European electric-vehicle charging service
04 December 2022
Operating across 27 European countries, the new Audi charging service will be facilitated by over 800 operators. Launching on 1 January 2023, it will give customers access to a network of 400,000 plug-in points.
Within this, there will be roughly 1,900 high-performance chargers (HPC) from Ionity – a joint venture between VW Group, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz – allowing for fast charging up to 350kW along major European traffic routes.
The new offering will replace the existing e-Tron charging service, which was launched four years ago and operated in conjunction with Digital Charging Solutions. The Audi charging service is only open to the brand’s battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). It is possible thanks to cooperation between Audi, Volkswagen (VW) Group Charging and Elli.
Tiers of tariffs
Three tariffs will be available within the Audi charging service: basic, plus and pro. The pro tariff is aimed at frequent users who regularly need to charge on the road, rather than at home.
In Germany, the monthly base fee for this plan is €14.99, with charging per kilowatt hour costing 45 cents at an alternating current (AC) station, 58 cents at a direct current (DC) station, and 35 cents at an Ionity HPC. Audi has confirmed that it will pay the base fee for the first year of pro service.
The plus tariff is pitched at drivers who only need to charge on the road occasionally. This will be available with a monthly base fee of €7.99. Meanwhile, the basic tariff is suited to consumers primarily charging at home and only occasionally needing to plug in remotely.
Audi charging service customers will pay through the myAudi app, which will also allow them to locate plug points, access prices and get service updates.
Modular charging hubs
Earlier this year, findings from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) revealed that a radical increase in electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is required to keep pace with growing demand. ACEA highlighted that the EU needs to install 14,000 public charging points per week to reach climate goal targets for EVs by 2030.
This is something Audi might be able to help tackle with its charging hubs. These locations use cube-shaped power containers, with recycled lithium-ion batteries taken from dismantled test vehicles. Utilising a modular design, these locations can be quickly set up to support EVs. In November, the carmaker opened a new charging hub in Zurich, Switzerland.
The site’s four plug-in points are each capable of delivering an output of 320kW. The hub’s storage capacity of 1.05MWh is comparable to 11 Audi e-Tron 55s and can supply enough power for up to 60 EVs a day. The location also uses 100% renewable energy. Meanwhile, a photovoltaic system on the roof means additional green energy.
