Boost for electric charging network

Audi and its partner ABB NZ are installing high-output electric vehicle (EV) fast-chargers across the country, the first of which will go live in August.

The two companies are rolling out a series of 50kW and 175kW chargers to the marque’s dealerships nationwide, with New Zealand’s first 175kW DC charger, pictured, located at Archibalds Motors in Christchurch. Giltrap Audi in Auckland, Ebbett Audi in Hamilton and Farmer Audi in Tauranga will all follow in Archibald’s footsteps in having 175kw DC chargers on-site.

All Audi dealerships have 50kW ABB Terra 54 chargers, which can charge an E-tron’s 90kWh battery fully in two hours. The 175kW charger can add up to 80 per cent in 40 minutes. A full E-tron battery offers 400km of range and charges at a DC rate of up to 150kW.

Dean Sheed, general manager of Audi NZ, says the charging infrastructure can be used “immediately by E-tron customers”. He adds: “We expect other brands to follow our lead, thereby raising the charging capability for the country and keeping New Zealand at a world-class level.”

ABB NZ is proud to partner with Audi in New Zealand “to provide the latest EV charging technology” says Ewan Morris, managing director of ABB NZ.

The Audi dealerships in the North Island include two in Auckland, with a third at European Motor Distributors’ head office, Hamilton, Tauranga, Palmerston North, Napier and Wellington. In the South Island, the chargers can be found in Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown.

While Audi will become the local distributor with the fastest high-speed chargers across the country, Tesla still has a numbers advantage by offering eight super-charger sites across the country, each with between four and six outlets, with four more planned. However, Tesla’s super-chargers currently top out at 120kW in New Zealand. E-tron owners will be able to sample Archibalds’ 175kW charger next month.