Public Charging

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How many charging stations are there in the UK?​

• 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.

When will more charging points be coming to my area?​

• You can find out the latest plans and information on the Zap Map or by contacting your local authority.

Discover Zap-Map​​

How does public charging work and what does it cost?​

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, Ecotricity, Osprey, Instavolt, ESB and Shell Recharge. We recommend you download the Zap Map app 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 e-tron Charging Service to make it simple and easy to pay for charging with just one card/app.

*Limited number of Ultra Rapid charging points currently available in the UK, with numbers planned to increase initially on UK motorways.

How can I find charging stations or plan a trip?

To find charging stations you can use:
• Your Audi’s intuitive navigation system – Electric Audis 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 - 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.​
• Sign up to the e-tron Charging Service to view stations in the navigation and my Audi app. (https://www.audi.co.uk/uk/web/en/electric/charging/e-tron-charging-service.html)​​

Does the car show if a charging station is out of service or occupied?​

• 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.​

Can I make a reservation for a charging station?​

• Not at the moment. This is controlled by charge point operators, who currently don’t support this function.​

What happens if I run out of charge?​

• 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, and as the remaining range gets lower, the car will even turn off some of the features, like the air conditioning and seat heating, which can impact the range. It will even limit the speed (up to 56mph on an 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 only and is accessed by switching off the ignition and restarting the car.
• You can 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.

What happens if I have an issue with the charging unit?​

• Please contact the charge point operator. Their telephone number normally is found on the unit or payment app.​

Is Audi bringing out ultra rapid chargers?​

• Audi and the Volkswagen Group have partnered other OEMS to form Ionity, a joint venture to create a pan-European high-power charging (HPC) network that will install more than 400 High Power Charging 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, driving cars from different manufacturers to charge their vehicles at the same time. Ionity have 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 on an 350kW Ionity charger the Audi e-tron GT quattro (270kW) is capable of a fully charge in about 23 minutes (charge time based under optimum battery temperature conditions).
• Stop, charge, drink a coffee, and go. Payment is quick and easy, you can pay with the Audi e-tron Charging Service (with the Transit Tariff you benefit form discounted Ionity pricing) or you can pay on the spot via your smartphone or credit card.
• The latest information including sites that are both available for use and in-progress, can be found on Ionity’s website.
• 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 of these in Germany and the UK.

If I go abroad, will I need a charger adapter?​

• 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 e-tron Charging Services, 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.​

Will the e-tron Charging Service (eCS) be available in the UK?

• The e-tron Charging Service (eCS) provides easy payment and access to one of the largest public charging networks in the UK and Europe.
• eCS gives access to almost 75% of the UK’s public charging points¹ with one card (or myAudi app). The service currently gives access to over 17,500 UK public charging points and covers over 242,000 charging points across 26 European countries². Roaming abroad is also free of charge, which means that you can travel easily without having to sign up to different networks.
• Our eCS UK partners include BP Pulse, Pod Point, Ionity, Source London, New motion, Osprey and Chargepoint Network². See the latest list of UK eCS partners below.
• Our eCS is available for both TFSI e and e-tron customers.
• There are two tariffs on offer: City (which can easily be terminated with a month’s notice) or Transit (with a minimum contract period of 12 months). Check out the latest tariffs and rates below.
• Both offer fixed tariffs, but the Transit tariff includes discounted tariff pricing on Ionity charging stations (recommended for e-tron customers who may wish to regularly charge at these stations).
• BP instant access is included in both the City and Transit tariffs. For discounted rates, you can add the optional BP Pulse Subscription pack for an additional monthly fee. Find out more below.
• You can find eCS charging points through your car's navigation or myAudi app. These are easily identifiable by the Audi rings. You can also find the eCS charging points by using our interactive map below.
• Signing up to the service is simple. Just register via the e-tron Charging Service portal below with your myAudi account, enter your car details and your VIN, select a tariff, enter your personal and payment details, locate your charge card in your glove box, and activate it by entering the A-UK card number into your account. Don’t have a charge card? Don’t worry - you can request to have one sent to you within 6 working days. If you are eligible for a voucher code, WhatsApp us on 01137 334 311 and we will send you a code to add to your account.
• After signing up, using the card is simple – though it will take up to 24 hours to be activated. For most charging stations, you will just need your e-tron charge card. Some providers like Pod Point and Charg.gy's chargers do not have the ability to read cards, so you will need to use the myAudi app, ensuring you have set yourself up as a key user in order to activate the charge. You will be able to access your individual charging contract on the eCS portal, and you will be emailed your monthly bill too.
• Further information on the e-tron Charging Service including latest offers can be found below.


¹ Estimate calculation based on eCS charge points coverage of 17,598 (data correct as of 9th August 2021) and total applicable UK charge points coverage of 24,109 (July 2021 Zap Map data). Data based on Type 2 and CCS devices only, excludes private and dealership charging stations (with the exception of Porsche) and non-compatible charging stations including other OEMS.
² Data correct as of 9th August 2021.