September 17, 2022

Audi e-tron charging time: Everything you need to know

Audi Q8 e-tron and Q5 plug-in hybrid charging inside a two car garage

In 2023, Audi is set to have more battery electric vehicles on sale in the US than any other luxury brand. Customers can choose between Audi’s several EV models, which the company calls “e-trons”: there are sportbacks and sedans; plug-in hybrids and fully-electric engines; various levels of horsepower and battery range. At the 2022 World Car Awards, the e-tron GT quattro won the title of Best Performance, and was nominated in the categories of Best EV and Best Design, so you know you’re getting a high quality ride.

 

But high quality doesn’t always mean high price! The e-tron also won the 2022 Vincentric award for lowest total cost of ownership! This “best certified value” recognition is based on everything from its high fuel economy to its low maintenance costs, and especially its long-term durability. Plus, fully-electric Audi e-trons still qualify for the full $7,500 federal EV tax credit, in addition to many state and local incentives. So if you’re thinking about going green, or if you’re interested in sleek high-performance cars, this is a great time to check out the e-tron brand.

 

If this will be your first battery-powered vehicle, then figuring out how to deal with chargers may seem like a big hurdle. But it’s actually no hassle at all! Whether you’re looking for a way to go green, or just looking for a solidly engineered luxury car, don’t let the prospect of charging intimidate you. Here’s everything you need to know about charging your Audi e-tron:

 

How frequently will you have to re-charge? It depends on the charger.

People considering their first electric vehicle commonly worry about how inconvenient charging seems. But less than five percent of EV owners would consider going back to gas for their next car. The switch to plug-in electric power is so cheap and convenient that most people don’t seem to miss making weekly stops at smelly gas stations!

 

The 2023 Audi e-tron models have battery ranges ranging from 250 to 300 miles. Given that the average American drives around 250 miles per week, this means you likely won’t need to fill up your car more than once a week. However, about 80% of EV charging happens at home, so you should mostly expect to just plug-in at night sometimes.

 

How frequently, and for how long? Well, it depends on what kind of charger you’re using.

 

  • Level 1 chargers: Each Audi e-tron comes with a simple Level 1 charger which uses a normal 120-volt wall outlet, but this takes roughly three days to fill it up from empty.
  • Level 2 chargers: Most EV drivers purchase a Level 2 charger like the JuiceBox, which can completely replenish a depleted e-tron in about 9 hours.
  • Level 3 chargers: If you’re on the go, you can pay to fill up at a Level 3 rapid-charging station in just 30 minutes: you can find local Direct Current chargers here.

 

However, too much rapid-charging does eventually wear out your battery; so to preserve battery life, it will be beneficial to charge at home with a Level 2 charger as much as possible.

 

But which charging option is best?

If you have a JuiceBox with smart charging capabilities, you can monitor your charge, set schedules, and get charging notifications. That means you can plug it in at night without worrying about over-filling (we recommend keeping the charge between 20% and 80% of its overall capacity). Additionally, the JuiceBox allows you to pick when it charges: you can choose to charge when electricity costs are at their lowest.

 

If home charging stations aren’t right for you, there are still plenty of other great options. Refueling at employee or tenant charging stations, for instance, can provide you with greater flexibility and cheaper energy access, if it’s available to you. Plus, there are many compelling reasons that employers and landlords should offer chargers like the JuiceBox Pro. For example, federal and state governments and local utilities offer all sorts of incentives to make installing these cheap and easy. Further, it can play a key part in furthering their social responsibility goals. And, of course, it’s a great perk that will only rise in value as more people switch to electric vehicles. If your workplace or apartment building doesn’t yet offer these benefits, consider suggesting it!

 

How much can I really expect to save on fuel?

One of the most obvious reasons to consider a fully-electric vehicle is that you can say goodbye to high gas prices, but these savings might be even bigger than you’d guess. And since time is money, that also cuts down on your charging time—in a sense. So let’s run the numbers: the average American driver drives about 260 miles per week. With our average gas price nationwide now over $5.00, and the average fuel economy for light-duty vehicles in the country at just about 25 miles per gallon, this means that the typical person is looking at over $50.00 weekly on gassing up, or $2,600.00 per year.

 

In contrast, the standard 2022 e-tron model gets 78 “Miles per Gallon Equivalent”, which translates into over two miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This means they’d use well under 130 kWh per week charging an e-tron. Even during this unprecedented surge in energy prices, the average kWh in the US costs just 11.60 cents. So you can expect to spend less than $15.00 weekly on refueling your battery, or about $750.00 per year. What would you buy with your $2,000 in annual fuel savings from going green?

 

But how do I actually plug it in?

Charging at home is safe and easy to do. The charging inlet is located in front of the driver’s door, just under the e-tron logo. Audi uses the “Combined Charging System” standard, which is an AC inlet port on top of a DC one.

 

Type 2 connectors—such as the Juicebox—plug into the top section, as do slower 3-Pin cables.

 

After you’ve powered down and plugged in, the charging light glows white while the car communicates with the charging station: your vehicle runs basic safety checks on the power supply, the connection, and the battery level.

 

Then, if you haven’t decided to delay charging, the power begins to flow, and the light switches to a pulsing green. The dashboard will blink with details about your charge level and expected charging duration.

 

With a Level 2 charger, you can juice up overnight.

Sign up for news and offers