How to charge while saving the battery
The Audi e-tron charging port is located on the driver’s side front fender, just under the e-tron logo. After you’ve parked, powered down, and set the parking brake, you charge by pushing the button to the right of the e-tron logo and plugging in the e-tron charging cable. Charging starts immediately if you haven’t chosen to postpone it. The light glows white when communicating with the charger station and pulses green when charging. You’ll see a similar indicator pulse in the instrument cluster, which shows how much charge you have, how many miles you can go, and how long charging will take. If you have a JuiceBox with smart charging capabilities, you can monitor your charge, set schedules, and get charging notifications. To protect the battery, you should charge to 80% capacity for normal commuting and to 100% only for longer journeys. You can limit or change the charging capacity using the instrument cluster. By using intelligent charging strategies, you’ll extend the battery’s life.
The cost to charge an Audi e-tron
Calculating how much it will cost to charge the Audi e-tron every month is straightforward. Start by checking your electric bill to find the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) you pay. According to the Energy Information Administration, the average residential cost for a kWh of electricity was 13.85 cents in June 2021.
According to the Kelley Blue Book, a conservative estimate of mileage per kWh is 3 to 4 miles. Let’s assume you put 1,200 miles per month on your Audi e-tron.
- 1200 miles / 3 or 4 miles/kWh = 300 or 400 kWh per month
- 300 or 400 kWh x 13.85 cents/kWh = $41.55 to $55.40 per month
Even at the highest electric rates in the country—32.74 cents per kWh in Hawaii or more than double the average electrical cost—you’re paying far less than it would cost to drive a gasoline-powered vehicle 1,200 miles at the average cost of $3.157 per gallon, also according to the EIA. The average fuel economy of new light-duty vehicles is 25.7 mpg—which would work out to about 47 gallons or $148.38 per month.
Exactly when the EV uses power to charge at home is flexible. With its WiFi connectivity and app, the Enel X Way JuiceBox lets you charge at the time when electricity will cost you the least, and when the utility can supply the cleanest energy. What matters for consumers and utilities alike—and especially for EV drivers—is to use energy resources wisely.