Audi launches e-tron charging service in the UK

With the help of the new e-tron Charging Service owners of electrified Audi models can now plug and pay at hundreds of charge points across the UK and Europe with a single tap, and without being encumbered by subscriptions to numerous suppliers.

Key to the new service is an RFID card that unlocks access to a sizeable network of charge points operated by 18 companies in the UK, including IONITY, Pod Point, Source London and Instavolt, as well as two attractive fixed tariffs and free roaming abroad, yet generates only one monthly invoice for carriers in the interest of simplicity. The e-tron Charging Service automatically charges the owner's account based on usage without any extra input or effort required.

“The general perception of EV charging is that it is confusing and inconvenient, and we want to help to gradually dispel that belief,” said Andrew Doyle, Director of Audi UK. “We started by equipping the e-tron with the potential for fast charging at up to 150kW, and are now removing another layer of complexity for our EV owners by streamlining the end-to-end process, from charging activation to invoicing, with this new service.”

The first of the two tariffs is aimed at drivers who cover shorter distances and predominantly charge at home or work, and particularly those who own an Audi plug-in hybrid model. At £4.95 ($6.5) per month, the City tariff represents a cost-effective way to publicly charge - customers pay standardised rates of £0.30/kWh for AC charging and £0.39/kWh for DC fast-charging. When charging at a Source London AC point, 7.4kW charging is priced at £0.08/min, while 22KW costs £0.14/min. There is also no charge for using the e-tron Charging Services card to charge at free charging stations.

Users who charge more frequently on the road and require the fastest range replenishment times possible, or those who often travel on the continent, can instead opt for the Transit tariff at £16.95 ($22.2) per month, which includes the high-powered IONITY network and the 150kW output its chargers can deliver to maximise the charge speed of Audi e-tron models.

In line with the new IONITY pricing structure introduced in January 2020, e-tron owners can reap the benefits of an 80% recharge in as little as 30 minutes at a flat rate of just £0.28/kWh at any one of the 400 stations across Europe. This represents a significant saving of more than 60% over the standard IONITY tariff. As an added saving, e-tron owners will also receive the Transit tariff free for the first 12 months. Pricing at other AC and DC stations (including Source London) remains the same as the City tariff. City tariff customers who occasionally wish to charge at an IONITY station can still do so using their e-tron Charging Services card at the standard IONITY pricing structure.

Starting a charge is as simple as holding the card up to a charge point for authorisation. Alternatively, the myAudi app can also be used to activate certain stations when required, and has a built-in feature to locate charging units that are part of the e-tron Charging Service's broad network coverage. While on the move, the in-car MMI navigation system identifies eligible AC and DC stations across the country.