Designing the future of fleet
Five ways Audi is helping fleets transition to electric
As the UK market-leader in premium true fleet sales, Audi is ready to support the fleet transition to electric with a series of initiatives intended to offer support and consultative guidance.
It has invested in new digital platforms, Fleet Gateway and Leasing Portal, which is designed to give customers better access to the latest information on key models, advice on funding options and total cost of ownership, and guidance to help facilitate fleet electrification, including assistance on infrastructure planning.
A new national team of area fleet managers enable Audi to provide consultative services to fleet customers by understanding their needs and building trust, while prioritising physical meetings and product demonstrations.
Audi continues to make considerable headway with its electrification programme, delivering more than 13,000 EVs to UK customers last year and 118,196 across Europe – a 44% increase on the previous 12 months.
Russell Forbes, Audi UK National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager, says: “It’s a really healthy position to be in, but we want to make sure we’re ready to support our fleet customers, leasing partners and network as we ramp up to the next stage of electrification.”
This support includes the launch of the Audi Charging Service which gives fleets access to more than 500,000 charge points across Europe, including in the UK, while an agreement with Octopus Energy offers customers preferential tariffs on charging fees.
Audi is further supporting its customers through regional Audi e-tron brand experience events where fleets can get up close and personal with the latest electric cars. Not only can fleets test the existing Audi e-tron GT, Audi Q8 e-tron and Audi Q4 e-tron, they can also see for the first time models which will be launched next year, including the Q6 e-tron Prototype.
Forbes adds: “It’s great to have our customers, directors and products all in one room to talk about what fleets need and the road to electrification. We’re going to be doing a lot more product showcase events as we launch more of our forthcoming EVs with our fleet partners.”
Audi has also been working hard to speed up vehicle supply after the global shortage of semi-conductors, which affected all manufacturers.
Forbes says: “We’re happy to say that delivery times on Audi products are now normalising, down to six months for the brand’s most popular fleet model, the Audi Q4 e-tron.”
He adds: “The entire industry has faced major challenges around supply, but things are moving in the right direction and improving all the time.”
Russell Forbes, Audi UK National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager
Russell Forbes, Audi UK National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager
One card, one invoice – and access to 500,000 charge points
Audi is helping to support customers on their electrification journey by offering access to a massive network of charging facilities in the UK and across Europe via its new Charging Service, Audi charging.
With 500,000 public charge points across 27 European countries, run by more than 800 different operators, the Audi charge card gives access to thousands of charging stations at heavily discounted rates via one card, with one contract and one invoice.
Customers simply download the myAudi app, choose from one of three tariffs - basic, plus and pro – and activate their drivers’ cards.
The app offers full control and visibility of the charging service account, with easy access to contract management, charging sessions, invoices and charge station search with pricing. Billing is via the means of payment that has been saved in the myAudi app, such as a credit card.
New e-tron customers get the added advantage of a one-year free subscription to the pro tariff*.
Russell Forbes, Audi UK National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager, says: “The speed and ease of charging is a hot topic and it’s at the forefront of drivers’ minds when it comes to switching to an EV.”
The pro tariff is aimed primarily at EV drivers who regularly need to charge on the road, while plus is for those who only charge occasionally at public stations.
The monthly subscription to pro is £13.99, with DC charging from 66p per kWh, while plus is just £4.99, although the charging fees are slightly higher at 70p per kWh on DC charging (see table below).
A Plug & Charge function, available on selected models, allows the charging process to start automatically as soon as the connector is plugged into the vehicle.
Costs correct at time of publication.
Uk tariff | Basic | Plus | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
Basic fee (monthly) | £0.00 | £4.99 | £13.99 |
AC charging (price per KWh) | £0.63 | £0.53 | £0.49 |
DC charging (price per KWh) | £0.79 | £0.70 | £0.66 |
Ionity HPC (priceper KWh) | £0.69 | £0.69 | £0.44 |
Contract period | 1 Month (automatic extension) | 1 month (automatic extension) | 1 month (automatic extension) |
*After one year, the normal conditions for the tariff apply
Audi Q4 e-tron
With an impressive electric range of up to 321 miles (official test figure)*, the Audi Q4 e-tron can fulfil any driving requirement, helping to reduce driver anxiety and the need to constantly recharge.
As a result of these desirable benefits, the Audi Q4 e-tron’s rise to the top has been swift: within just two years of launch, it has become one of the best-selling electric cars in the UK, with more than 7,000 registrations. It is also Audi’s most popular electric vehicle, accounting for 70% of its electric sales.
Combining competitive total cost of ownership for fleet operators with exceptionally low benefit-in-kind tax for drivers, this progressive compact SUV is packed with the latest technology, including extensive driver assistance equipment (lane departure warning, pre-sense front, traffic sign recognition) and advanced infotainment.
It also tugs at the heartstrings with its stylish design, high quality interior and exceptional driving experience, but doesn’t forgo crucial practicalities, such as offering generous space for passengers and their luggage.
The ride is as comfortable and refined as you’d expect from a premium SUV.
Further plus points underlining its appeal to fleets include rapid charging: the Audi Q4 e-tron can be rapid-charged from 5-80% in just 29 minutes* on a 150kW unit.
Prices from £51,325**
Benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax from £17 a month
Range 293-321 miles (depending on trim)
0-62mph 8.5 seconds
Maximum DC charging capacity 150kW
Battery from 5-80% in 29 minutes
Battery capacity 76.6kWh
A BiK of £16.86 per month is payable by customers who purchase a Q4 e-tron 45 Sport SUV (P11d value £50,575) and are basic rate tax payers (20%). The BiK payable is dependent on your car (including choice of trim, wheels and other options), P11d value, its emissions and your tax band. The price and charges you pay may differ from any prices or charges displayed or quoted.
Audi Q8 e-tron
The Audi Q8 e-tron luxury SUV is adventurous, spacious, efficient and packed with Audi technology.
The latest versions boast an extended electric range of up to 330 miles*, 40% higher than the previous model. Yet it can still be rapid charged from 10-80%* in just 31 minutes.
The digital Audi Virtual cockpit comes as standard, together with intuitive MMI Navigation plus a 10.1-inch touchscreen – putting controls literally at your fingertips. Two central screens have haptic feedback as standard for a more tactile experience.
Adaptive air suspension is standard to assure supreme comfort, adjusting automatically between smooth and dynamic driving situations.
As well as producing zero emissions while driving, the Audi Q8 e-tron is built at Audi’s Brussels factory, which has been awarded the certification of CO2-neutral production.
Price from £70,195**
BIK tax £29 a month
Range up to 330 miles (depending on trim)
0-62mph 5.6 seconds
Maximum DC charging capacity 170kW
Battery from 10-80% in 31 minutes
Battery capacity 106kWh
Audi e-tron GT
With stunning design and sports power, the Audi e-tron GT quattro is the performance car for the new electric era.
Built alongside the legendary Audi R8 at the specialist Audi Sport facility at Bollinger Höfe in Germany, the Audi e-tron GT quattro has Audi Sport in its DNA. It offers pure electric exhilaration, in a gran tourismo guise, and is the company’s most powerful production series car.
With an official test value range of up to 301-305 miles* aided by intelligent recuperation, the electric range of the Audi e-tron GT quattro is as impressive as is its performance.
Each axle is driven by its own electric motor. Combined, they produce 476PS, while a 2.5-second launch control boost pushes this to 530PS. Acceleration is 0-62mph in 4.1 seconds.
The Audi e-tron GT quattro’s lithium-ion battery is capable of both standard AC and high-powered DC charging. At rapid DC charge stations, it has the capacity to be charged at 270 kW, enabling a 5-80% charge in less than 23 minutes*. A 140-mile range can be achieved in just 10 minutes*.
Price from £87,800**
BIK tax £29 a month
Range up to 305 miles (depending on trim)
0-62mph 4.1 seconds
Maximum DC charging capacity 270kW
Battery from 5-80% in 23 minutes
Battery capacity 83.7kWh
Audi’s holistic blueprint for the future
Audi’s roadmap will see it launch only fully electric vehicles from 2026; a year later it will have an electric vehicle in every core market segment. By 2033, it will no longer produce any internal combustion engine vehicles.
The Audi Q4 e-tron and Audi Q8 e-tron are already built at net carbon-neutral facilities in Germany and Belgium, an advantageous detail for fleet operators who are increasingly having to evidence their own green credentials.
Audi offsets unavoidable CO2-equivalent emissions via carbon-offsetting projects which are certified by The Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard.
Audi is working to reduce its global carbon emissions:
1. Rail instead of road: components are now transported by rail instead of road which is reducing emissions by 2,600 tons of CO2 per year.
2. Wind and solar parks: Audi is supporting net-green electric vehicle charging by building wind and solar parks across Europe by 2025. They will generate around five terawatt hours of additional green power - the equivalent of 250 wind turbines.
3. We're working to explore new ways to use recycled components: a pilot project is recycling damaged auto glass to create new window glass for the Audi Q4 e-tron. Since 2017, it has re-used aluminium scraps from its press shop.
Breaking the mould: an exciting glimpse of Audi’s future EVs
Audi has one of the most extensive and exciting electric vehicle launch plans of any global manufacturer.
By 2025, it will launch more than 10 fully electric cars (among a launch plan of 20 models) in the largest markets worldwide, with 40% of its sales forecast to come from electrified variants.
Due in the UK in 2024 is the Audi Q6 e-tron Prototype. Built on the new Premium Performance Electric (PPE) platform, which has been jointly developed with Porsche.
The Audi Q6 e-tron Prototype features an 800-volt electrical system, powerful and efficient electric motors, an innovative battery and charging management system and a newly developed electronics architecture.
PPE breaks new ground for Audi as a fully configurable electric vehicle platform. Battery size and wheelbase are scalable, and the architecture accommodates Audi’s trademark quattro system with individual electric motors fitted to front and rear axles to deliver all-wheel drive on demand.
Fleet customers should expect to hear more details soon about Audi’s electric models plans, including small and medium car models on the PPE platform.
Four concept cars showcasing Audi's view of future mobility
Concept car, not in production
Concept car, not in production
Audi Skysphere
As the first in a series of concept vehicles illustrating how Audi is actively shaping the future of premium mobility, the Audi Skysphere fuses technology and design. The electric two-door roadster was developed with one goal: to envision an automotive future where the car becomes an interactive space and experience device. It combines automated driving, a revolutionary new interior design and a fully integrated digital ecosystem.
Concept car, not in production
Concept car, not in production
Audi Grandsphere
The second of the sphere concept vehicles is a new interpretation of the saloon. A fully reconceived interior becomes a capacious space with the feel of a first-class lounge. It provides a glimpse of how tomorrow’s first-class automotive comfort will look: electric, automated, intuitive – and with plenty of individual space for immersive experiences.
Concept car, not in production
Concept car, not in production
Audi Urbansphere
A haven in the heart of rush hour, the fully automated Audi Urbansphere is the largest concept vehicle to join the sphere family so far. With its high-tech and generous interior space, it brings first-class comfort to life. Thanks to automated driving technology, it becomes a lounge on wheels or mobile office that can be individually customized for each occupant.
Concept car, not in production
Concept car, not in production
Audi Activesphere
Redefining quattro performance, the Audi Activesphere converts Audi’s history into Audi’s future. This fourth concept car in the Sphere family introduces an all-new body style with a unique combination of elegance and practicality.
“We’re really pleased with the fantastic progress from our factories and suppliers to be making great improvements on a vast majority of our core timelines. We have improving stock levels in our EV products available for fleet”
Russell Forbes, Audi UK National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager
FACTFILE:
Russell Forbes, Audi UK National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager
● Joined Audi UK in July 2016 and spent three years in used cars – latterly as National Used Car Manager
● April 2019: Joined Audi fleet team as National Contract Hire & Leasing Manager. Responsible for managing the relationship with leasing industry partners. Works closely with Audi’s dealer network partners to ensure it is operating a sustainable fleet business model for all stakeholders.
● Been in the automotive industry for more than two decades with experience at both dealership and national sales company level.
What are you currently driving?Audi Q5 SUV
What do you like about the Audi Q5? Infotainment and Practicality
What will be your next car? Audi Q4 e-tron
What is your dream Audi? Audi RS e-tron GT
Best thing about working for Audi? The strength and depth of the Product Portfolio with the strength of innovation and design.
Business ambition for 2023/24? To remain the #1 Premium Brand in True Fleet
Personal ambition for 2023/24? To reduce my Golf Handicap to single figures!
* o Q4 e-tron. o Q8 e-tron. o E-tron GT
Range: dependent on trim and optional equipment. All vehicles are tested according to WLTP technical procedures. Figures shown are official test values for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including but not limited to factory fitted options, accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, road and traffic conditions, individual driving styles, vehicle load, vehicle condition, use of systems like climate control (and, for battery electric vehicles, the starting charge, age and conditions of the battery). Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Battery electric vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Zero emissions while driving. Figures quoted are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes and figures may include options not available in the UK. Please consult your local Audi Centre for further information. Data correct in July 2023. Lithium-ion batteries, of the type used in most electric vehicles (including Audi electric vehicles) have a restricted lifespan. Battery capacity will reduce over time, with use and charging. Reduction in battery capacity will affect the performance of the vehicle, including the range achievable, and may impact resale value. New car performance figures (including battery capacity and range) may be provided for the purposes of comparison between vehicles. You should not rely on new car performance figures (including battery capacity and range), in relation to used vehicles with older batteries, as they will not reflect used vehicle performance in the real world. For further information on batteries and the Audi 8 year/100,000 mile battery warranty, please visit https://www.audi.co.uk/uk/web/en/electric/faqs/battery.html.
Charge Time: Timings based on a 10 to 80% charge using an ultra-rapid DC public charge station at the vehicle’s maximum charging capability. Ultra rapid charging stations are still limited in the UK, with numbers planned to increase. Actual charging times will vary depending on various factors, including the selected vehicle (and battery option, if available), the type of charger used, the level of charge in the battery, the age type, condition and temperature of the charger and the battery, the power supply, ambient temperature at the point of use and other environmental factors. Charging times will also be affected by the charging curve (for example, once charging passes 80%, charging will slow to protect the battery's longevity) and will be longer if battery temperature activates safeguarding technology.
The availability of 150kWh and 350kWh chargers is currently limited in the UK. They are mainly located on selected motorways and major arterial routes. These chargers are not currently available in Northern Ireland and numbers are extremely low in Scotland, Wales and parts of England.
** Accurate at time of publication: September 2023
o Sustainability
https://www.audi.com/en/company/sustainability/core-topics/value-creation-and-production/closed-circuit-recycled-automobile-glass.html
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/the-new-audi-q8-e-tron-15069/carbon-neutral-form-stage-one-sustainable-production-15087
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/press-releases/greentech-festival-focus-on-circular-economy-pilot-project-for-glass-recycling-becomes-standard-15412
https://www.audi-mediacenter.com/en/the-new-audi-q8-e-tron-15069/carbon-neutral-form-stage-one-sustainable-production-15087
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