Public Charging
Audi charging is a payment service for Audi customers for billing the electricity used for charging at public charging stations. The service will be available as of 01/01/2023. You can charge your Audi anywhere in the supported charging network using an Audi charging card or the myAudi app.
First, download the myAudi app from the App Store or Google Play to your mobile phone. After entering your personal data, you set up your vehicle in myAudi, using its chassis number, as well as the main user. Now you can select your appropriate rate in the "Audi charging" area and order your Audi charging card.
After pairing the myAudi app with your Audi charging card number, you can use the charging service.
The shortcut AC stands for alternating current, and DC, for direct current. Both alternating current and direct current can be used to charge electric cars. Since only direct current can be stored in the high-voltage battery, the alternating current must first be converted into direct current. Electric vehicles therefore also require a so-called AC/DC converter (charger), which converts the alternating current (e.g., via a Schuko socket) into direct current.
Charging powers of 50 kW and more are referred to as fast charging. Not every electric vehicle supports high charging currents of this kind. To make electromobility more attractive, charging stations for up to 350kW are already available today. HPC charging* is usually found on motorways to enable short charging times and, consequently, shorter stops. This shortens your travel time considerably.
HPC charging is typically used between a charge level of 20% and 80% of the SOC**, as charging from 80% – 100% takes an above-average amount of time.
*HPC charging (high performance charging or high power changing) = charging power of 100 kW and above
**SOC (state of charge) = the state of charge of a high-voltage battery expressed as a percentage
The information about charging stations in the myAudi app and in the vehicle navigation system is updated every day. Information about the availability of charging stations is also constantly updated but is subject to a small delay of a few minutes.
If your vehicle is in an underground car park, for example, the data can only be updated once the vehicle has established a connection online (shortly after leaving the underground car park).
• There are now thousands of public charging stations across the UK. Latest locations and stats can be found on Zap-Map.
• Historically, the charging infrastructure has mainly been focused on slower charging stations. But now that there are more electric vehicles with faster charging capabilities, rapid charging points are increasingly available.
• Charging station accessibility does vary across the UK, with some areas having more accessible infrastructure than others.
• Ultra rapid charging stations like Ionity are still limited in the UK, with numbers planned to increase.
• Discover more about public charging and watch our charging films below.
• You can find out the latest plans and information on the Zap Map or by contacting your local authority.
Public chargers come with:
• Different plug types and charging speeds – from Slow (up to 3kW AC), Fast (7-22kW AC), Rapid (43kW AC or 50kW DC) to Ultra Rapid* (100-350kW DC).
• Have different plug types and cables. AC public chargers will have either a 3-pin, Commando, Type 1 or Type 2 plug connector. Type 2 is the most common in Europe and used by Audi and other European Brands. DC chargers will have either a Chademo, Tesla Type 2 or CCS plug connector. CCS (Combined Charging System) is the EU standard and most common, this is what Audi and other European brands use for DC charging (fully electric models only). As a general rule, AC slow and fast chargers will be untethered, meaning you need to use your Type 2 (Mode 3) AC charging cable that comes with the car, whilst rapid chargers will have the charging cable attached to the unit.
• Are run by different charging network operators - The UK has a large number of public electric vehicle charging networks, some offering national coverage and others concentrating on specific regions. The major UK-wide networks today include BP Pulse, Pod Point, Ubertricity, Source London, ChargePlace Scotland, Charge your Car, Osprey, Instavolt, ESB and Shell Recharge to name a few. We recommend you download the Audi Search & Find map below to identify your local network operators in your area/regular route.
• Different payment methods & costs - The cost depends on the power level of the station and the tariff model of the network provider. Whilst some public charging stations may be free to use, most public charging stations charge (especially those with a greater power output). The cost of charging publicly will likely be higher than at home. Some providers charge per kWh others by minute and some have a fixed rate per use. Payment methods vary too. Some networks offer RFID cards, whilst others use payment apps or contactless pay as you go. We’ve designed the Audi Charging Service to make it simple and easy to pay for charging with just one card/app.
• Discover more about public charging or watch our charging films.
To find charging stations you can use:
• Your Audi’s intuitive navigation system – Electric Audi vehicles build charging stops into your route. The car will automatically recommend a charging stop during navigation, if you don’t have enough range to finish your journey.
• The myAudi app - You can also find charging stations on the myAudi app, as well as planning journeys, which you can send to your car’s navigation system. You can watch a short video on the benefits of the myAudi app and find out more information below.
• Sign up to the Audi Charging Service to view stations in the navigation and my Audi app.
• The navigation system and myAudi app is able to show this in some instances. Currently limited providers and charging stations have the technology to transmit this information.
• Not at the moment. This is controlled by charge point operators, who currently don’t support this function.
• There are safeguards built into the system to warn you when your charge is low. For example, on the Audi e-tron models, you will be warned when you reach an estimated 62 and 31 miles remaining respectively. As the remaining range gets lower, the car will turn off some of the features that can impact the range, like the air conditioning, seat heating, and even the speed, which will be limited to 56mph on the Audi e-tron, to preserve the maximum range.
• When your electric vehicle displays a range of 0 miles and the vehicle comes to a stop, there is an emergency mode to allow the vehicle to be moved to a safe location. This emergency mode allows approximately 100 metres of driving and is accessed by switching off the ignition and restarting the car.
• Rest assured that if you do run out of charge, the AA will be able to assist you; all new Audi models come with 3 years of complimentary roadside assistance.
• Please contact the charge point operator. Their telephone number is normally found on the unit or payment app.
• Audi and the Volkswagen Group have partnered with other original equipment manufacturers (OEMS) to form Ionity, a joint venture to create a pan-European high-power charging (HPC) network that will install more than 400 HPC stations across Europe.
• Located by major motorways, the stations have a charging capacity of up to 350kW DC, offering a significant improvement on the charging times offered by existing systems. Each station enables multiple customers to charge their vehicles at the same time, with cars from different manufacturers also accepted. Ionity has also partnered with Octopus Energy to make sure the entire network is powered by renewable sources. Octopus Energy’s ‘Electric Juice’ will provide every charge point with 100% renewable energy, helping to reduce the environmental impact of a journey.
• The charging speeds are impressive - for example, the Audi e-tron GT quattro (270kW) is capable of being fully charged in about 23 minutes on a 350kW Ionity charger (charge time based under optimum battery temperature conditions).
• Stop, charge, drink a coffee, and go. With the Audi Charging Service, payment is quick and easy.
• The latest information, including sites that are both available for use and in-progress, can be found on Ionity’s website below.
• In addition to the Ionity joint venture, Audi and Volkswagen have also signed a strategic partnership with BP Pulse, to create a network of ultra-fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles across the UK and rest of Europe. The fast-chargers will have a charging capacity of 150 kW and will be installed at a total of 4,000 BP service stations, with the majority in Germany and the UK.
• Public charging stations are operated independently abroad, so you will need to find those that are compatible with your vehicle - your electric vehicle’s navigation and myAudi app can also help you with this.
• Electric Audi cars are compatible with any Type 2 connectors with AC charging stations, while DC charging stations (fully electric models only) can connect to any of the CCS connectors.
• Type 2 and CCS connectors are the most commonly-found connector types across Europe.
• If you have signed up to the Audi Charging Service, don’t forget to take your charge card with you. Roaming is free, so you can travel abroad easily without having to sign up to different networks and compare prices.