Audi South Africa Expands Charging Network With Addition Of 150kW DC Fast Chargers In Key National Locations

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South Africa’s EV market continues to be fairly small, however it’s now beginning to present indicators of progress. the newest full-year knowledge, the market shares for plug-in hybrid, BEV, and plug-less hybrids have been 0.06%, 0.17%, and 1.2% respectively. These electrified automobiles had a mixed market share of 1.5% of the South African new automobile gross sales market. Q1 2024 and evaluating it with Q1 2023, gross sales of plug-in hybrids appear to indicate indicators of restoration. 138 plug-in hybrids have been offered in Q1 2024, in contrast with simply 25 in Q1 2023.

One of many key enablers for exciting adoption of plug-in electrical automobiles is the supply of public charging infrastructure. Because of this Audi, in collaboration with companions akin to Rubicon, is contributing to the expansion of electrical automobile charging infrastructure in South Africa.

Audi has been investing into public infrastructure for some time now and has now introduced its newest funding. That is Audi’s third funding spherical in charging infrastructure in South Africa. Audi South Africa says the corporate is once more taking part in a serious position in persevering with to organize South Africa for a way forward for widescale electrical mobility. Following intensive investments in 2022 and 2023. — throughout which period Audi and its strategic companions GridCars and Rubicon added greater than 120 DC and AC public charging factors to the nationwide grid — the model has as soon as once more partnered with Rubicon to put in six 150 kW DC quick public chargers in handy areas nationwide. This marks the third wave of Audi South Africa’s charging community funding and brings the full spend to greater than R50 million.

The six new chargers, every providing two charging factors that may provide costs concurrently, are positioned in key areas alongside South Africa’s three most important highway arteries — the N1, N2, and N3 highways. These chargers will serve each commuters residing close by in addition to these motorists venturing additional afield on their holidays and work journeys. And customers gained’t need to surprise how you can occupy their time whereas their automobiles are plugged in — a 150kW quick charger can high up a median Audi e-tron battery from 5% to 80% in half-hour or much less.

Listed below are the areas of the brand new 150kW quick chargers:

“This third wave of investment into the public charging network in South Africa highlights once again our commitment to electric mobility,” says Sascha Sauer, head of Audi South Africa. “We believe EVs represent the future of our brand, both globally as well as locally, and we’re therefore playing our part in making electric mobility a convenient, straightforward reality for more and more South Africans.”

In line with Rubicon’s Vitality and E-mobility Director, Greg Blandford, “Rubicon is proud to have collaborated with Audi South Africa on the installation of six cutting-edge Wallbox Supernova 150kW DC chargers. These chargers feature pioneering European technology and notably, stand among the first of their kind to be installed worldwide. This marks a major achievement for both Rubicon and Audi SA.”

It’s nice to see that South Africa’s electrical automobile charging community is rising and that extra of the sooner DC chargers (150kW and above) at the moment are being deployed in South Africa. This may permit drivers to have a extra seamless driving expertise round South Africa. Beneath is a video of 1 such drive, even with an EV with a comparatively small battery, all enabled by a few of these chargers from Audi and companions.

Photos courtesy of Audi South Africa