Audi offers 22-kW charger option with e-tron
Audi now offers a second onboard charger for the e-tron 55 and the e-tron Sportback 55, which allows doubling the AC charging power from 11 to up to 22 kW. This option will also be available for the e-tron 50 and e-tron S models in mid-2021. There is no retrofit solution.
Audi had already announced the second onboard charger in the spring of 2018, and now the optional charger on a 22 kW AC charger can help to reduce the charging time from the previous eight-and-a-half hours to just under five hours.
According to Audi, the standard Mode 3 cable, with which all e-tron models can charge on public pillars, has already been converted to 22 kW charging power. The surcharge for the second onboard charger is 1,623.03 euros. The second onboard charger only comes in conjunction with a second charging port on the passenger side which adds 438.65 euros for the latter to the bill.
In connection with the improved AC charging performance, Audi is also advertising its new connect charging system, which is designed for up to 22 kW and can be used in the garage at home. The charger is, in fact, the counterpart to the Porsche Mobile Charger. The connect charging system also includes a control unit with a 5-inch touch display and a wall mount but is a mobile charging station with a Schuko and CEE32 adapter.
Audi emphasises the WLAN function of the charging solution and its compatibility with home energy management systems from SMA Solar Technology or the Hager Group. Audi is also researching bidirectional charging with Hager. In combination with these smart home solutions, the Audi e-tron can take the needs of other consumers in the household into account, and the customer can set individual priorities, such as charging at low cost, Audi says. “If the home is equipped with a photovoltaic system, the car can be charged preferentially using the electricity generated by the system. Charging planning then considers forecast periods of sunshine,” the company explains. According to the configurator, the connect charging system costs 1,237.99 euros.
In addition to these charging-specific topics, Audi has also redesigned the steering wheels on the e-tron. In the future, drivers will only have to lightly touch their touch-sensitive rim once a minute to maintain the lateral guidance of the Adaptive Driving Assistant.
On another note, the Audi e-tron S and the e-tron S Sportback can now optionally drive up on 22-inch wheels. The models have 20-inch wheels as standard. In addition to 21-inch wheels, 9.5 J x 22 format and 265/40 series tires are now optional, costing from 2,037.31 euros. The innovations for the e-tron models can be ordered immediately with delivery to start towards the end of the year.
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