Audi brings 43 EV charging stations to the grid
These charging stations, powered by solar technology, will help to EV owners to use their cars despite the load-shedding challenges.
Audi South Africa and Rubicon say these stations can accommodate 57 electric vehicles (EVs) simultaneously, regardless of the brand.
This rollout includes the first DC 200kW ultra-fast charger in South Africa installed at the Mall of Africa. The EV battery of an e-tron GT can be recharged within 15 minutes. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed at Mall of Africa is one of the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, making this installation a progressive statement towards sustainable charging.
The commissioning of the first and second phase of charging infrastructure means that Audi, and partners GridCars and Rubicon, have installed 76 fast and ultra-fast EV chargers across South Africa, representing about 28% of public charging stations in the country.
“The rollout of our second phase of EV charging stations is the next step in realising our vision of sustainable mobility and living our mantra that the ‘Future is an Attitude’,” says Sascha Sauer, head of Audi South Africa.
“EVs are the future of mobility and we’re investing not just in hardware infrastructure, but in making electric mobility simpler and more widely available for South Africans, thus enabling the local EV market to grow. By fulfilling our promise from early 2022, we’re demonstrating our commitment to helping take SA into the future of mobility”.
Greg Blandford, director of Rubicon Energy & E-mobility, says that as public interest in EVs grows, so will the drive to integrate charging infrastructure, renewable energy and energy storage systems.
“Rubicon is fully immersed and committed to the advancement of renewable energy and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in South Africa. The global adoption of artificial intelligence, smart devices, greener technologies and carbon reduction initiatives has highlighted and accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Local availability of more and more EVs, coupled with the increase in fossil fuel costs, will be a major catalyst for EV adoption in South Africa,” he says.
The newly added 43 chargers are spread across the provinces as follows:
All 76 Audi-branded charging stations are part of the charging network that can be accessed here: https://www.chargestations.co.za/oemportal/audi/
Source: QuickPic
