Discussion
Hopefully the scheme provider can get it ordered if I decide to go for it. Would've thought this would be Audi's target audience at the moment with the BIK incentive.
I notice the 55 has gone completely from the Audi configurator(apart from Sportback), anyone know the reason for this?
I notice the 55 has gone completely from the Audi configurator(apart from Sportback), anyone know the reason for this?
cheeky_chops said:
Apparently the free charger is only available to retail customers? Not sure why as i ordered thru a lease agent (not NHS) and he said he couldnt order it either. Will try and blag one via dealer when i get mine delivered (bought a ex mgmt vx220 and told no free palmersport experience so called up gave them a VIN and booked!) I do similar mileage to you and i charged my leaf for 4 years on a 3 pin plug so will continue running a 3 pin plug otherwise. 3 pin plug can deliver approx 3kwh so about 7.5miles per hour recharging overnight (at 2.5miles/kw)
The Audi 3-pin charger supplies 2.1kW to the car.This is after a ~10% loss as AC converters aren’t 100% efficient.
I understand they don’t pull the full 13A because it poses a risk over sustained time periods. There are plenty of pictures of melted 13A plugs/sockets online.
I haven’t Thad any problems using mine over the last 1300 miles but you do have to bear in mind that a full charge say from 10% to 100% is going to take about 37 hours!
ZesPak said:
I melted an old outside plug charging at 3.5kW for about 8 hours.
Edited by ZesPak on Tuesday 7th July 21:15
I am aware of BS1363 plug/socket combos being used with a nail in the fuse holder for far higher current than 13A (not advisable as the screw terminal holes become the limiting factor!), shouldn't be any issue with a (properly installed and serviceable) UK plug being used at 3kW continuously.
donkmeister said:
Eek, I thought Schuko was rated for 16A continuous! Must have been a bit concerning when it started smoking...
I am aware of BS1363 plug/socket combos being used with a nail in the fuse holder for far higher current than 13A (not advisable as the screw terminal holes become the limiting factor!), shouldn't be any issue with a (properly installed and serviceable) UK plug being used at 3kW continuously.
Tbh it was just a dodgy installation in the front garden that was occasionally used for a hedge trimmer.I am aware of BS1363 plug/socket combos being used with a nail in the fuse holder for far higher current than 13A (not advisable as the screw terminal holes become the limiting factor!), shouldn't be any issue with a (properly installed and serviceable) UK plug being used at 3kW continuously.
We found plenty of corrosion on the cables after peeling it open, which might have led to excessive heat. A bit of luck as well the plug was in an extension cord, as both the socket and the plug were done for.
donkmeister said:
shouldn't be any issue with a (properly installed and serviceable) UK plug being used at 3kW continuously.
Agreed, but evidence suggests there's a lot of un-proper installations out there and I guess the manufacturers are being risk averse rather than fill the newspapers with wailing 'my electric car burned down my house whilst my family were sleeping in it' type headlines.
Have recently taken delivery of a MY2020 e-Tron 55 (in UK). Happy to try to answer any questions from any prospective buyers.
Benefited from Audi UK's Pod Point offer which is being installed next Tues - process was fairly pain-free although I think there can be big delays in getting an installation date depending on where you are in the country.
Benefited from Audi UK's Pod Point offer which is being installed next Tues - process was fairly pain-free although I think there can be big delays in getting an installation date depending on where you are in the country.
First impressions. Wow it's really, really good. Feels solid, is super fast and nice cabin to be in.
They called and said did I want them to stop and charge before it got to me. I stupidly said no and thought that's part of the experience charging it up!?
First two I went to, chargers out of order. Looked on Zap Maps, found another, got there, car already on charge. Have come home and it's on a 3 ping plug with 29 hours till fully charged!
That being said, it's a lovely drive, quiet, responsive and quick in sport!
Impressed!
It's between this and plug in Q5 now...
They called and said did I want them to stop and charge before it got to me. I stupidly said no and thought that's part of the experience charging it up!?
First two I went to, chargers out of order. Looked on Zap Maps, found another, got there, car already on charge. Have come home and it's on a 3 ping plug with 29 hours till fully charged!
That being said, it's a lovely drive, quiet, responsive and quick in sport!
Impressed!
It's between this and plug in Q5 now...
We had an E Tron today for 5 hours. It was a '55' which the traditional Swiss 'dealer-full-option-spec'.
Background: I owned an early i3 for about 25,000 km / 18 months and when we moved up to the mountain needed to swap it for something with AWD so have owned a 340i xDrive for the last 3 years. When we got the 3 series the only real options for an EV was a Model S but I was a bit put-off by reliability reports and the fact it's almost 4 hours drive to the nearest service centre.
We don't have any motorways nearby so I had to suffice with driving up and down the valley and up the local Julier and Bernina passes.
I was really pleasantly surprised by the Audi. On the passes it was easy to get a good flow and it handled nicely around the hairpins on the passes disguising the weight well. It managed to reclaim about 35km in range going down the Julier to the nearest town on the other side (we live at 1750m so it's not too far to the top).
What I really liked was the way the car braked automatically to the right speed on for the hairpins. I missed the recharge-braking of the i3 but this 'smart braking' was arguably more impressive. As long as you're light on the brake pedal it seems to mostly be recharging.
Going up it wasn't as fast as my current BMW but not uncomfortably so. My Swiss-spec 340i is on paper similar to the new m340i with 360PS so on paper a mid-4 second to 60 car but the electric drivetrain makes up for the on-paper weakness for useful things like overtaking caravans. I guess by the time the BMW has worked out which gear is needed for the acceleration the EV is ahead.
What was really marked was just how refined and quiet the Audi was. I haven't been in the BMW since but I suspect it will feel noisy and crude by comparison. I will not miss bangs and pops and screaming exhausts which after time on a daily just get tiresome.
We also took it 'off-road' and I was impressed how it rode on rutted ground. The 'off-road' setting on the air suspension gave it a useful gain in ground clearance.
Overall I think the best word would be 'refined'. We have a 150kw charger in the village and numerous 150 or 350kw chargers within 100km along most of the major routes so the smaller range (compared to a Tesla) I'm viewing not to be a problem.
Background: I owned an early i3 for about 25,000 km / 18 months and when we moved up to the mountain needed to swap it for something with AWD so have owned a 340i xDrive for the last 3 years. When we got the 3 series the only real options for an EV was a Model S but I was a bit put-off by reliability reports and the fact it's almost 4 hours drive to the nearest service centre.
We don't have any motorways nearby so I had to suffice with driving up and down the valley and up the local Julier and Bernina passes.
I was really pleasantly surprised by the Audi. On the passes it was easy to get a good flow and it handled nicely around the hairpins on the passes disguising the weight well. It managed to reclaim about 35km in range going down the Julier to the nearest town on the other side (we live at 1750m so it's not too far to the top).
What I really liked was the way the car braked automatically to the right speed on for the hairpins. I missed the recharge-braking of the i3 but this 'smart braking' was arguably more impressive. As long as you're light on the brake pedal it seems to mostly be recharging.
Going up it wasn't as fast as my current BMW but not uncomfortably so. My Swiss-spec 340i is on paper similar to the new m340i with 360PS so on paper a mid-4 second to 60 car but the electric drivetrain makes up for the on-paper weakness for useful things like overtaking caravans. I guess by the time the BMW has worked out which gear is needed for the acceleration the EV is ahead.
What was really marked was just how refined and quiet the Audi was. I haven't been in the BMW since but I suspect it will feel noisy and crude by comparison. I will not miss bangs and pops and screaming exhausts which after time on a daily just get tiresome.
We also took it 'off-road' and I was impressed how it rode on rutted ground. The 'off-road' setting on the air suspension gave it a useful gain in ground clearance.
Overall I think the best word would be 'refined'. We have a 150kw charger in the village and numerous 150 or 350kw chargers within 100km along most of the major routes so the smaller range (compared to a Tesla) I'm viewing not to be a problem.
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