Audi A3 Sportback e-tron charging guide

 

When Audi’s A3 Sportback e-tron was on sale as new, it almost had the premium PHEV hatchback market to itself – challenged only by VW Group stablemate, the VW Golf GTE. Following a mid-life refresh, Audi only added to the A3 e-tron’s appeal, including a 28 mile electric-only range.

* Combined range using both petrol and electric (from a single full charge)

How to charge an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron uses the Type 2 charging standard, which is used for all charging requirements. The Type 2 inlet is used when charging at home or at public slow and fast AC points. Like most PHEVs, the A3 Sportback e-tron has no rapid charging capabilities. The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron’s Type 2 inlet is found behind a flap on what normally be the car’s grille.

Audi’s A3 Sportback e-tron is able to be slow and fast charged from public points, depending on network and type of charge unit. In most cases, slow charging requires a 3-pin-to-Type 2 cable, and fast charging a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, both of which are usually supplied with the vehicle.

Type 2 – Slow & Fast

 

Charging requires the PHEV driver to plug the connectors into the correct inlet, after which the car then ‘talks’ to the charging unit to make sure there is a power supply, that there are no faults, and that it is safe to start charging. If charging at private home or workplace charge point, the vehicle then automatically starts charging.

On a public charger, an activation process is required to initiate charging. Depending on the network provider, this may require the use of an RFID card or smartphone app, often linked to an account which has been set up beforehand. Contactless pay-as-you-go units are also becoming more common on newer points. Once activated, the units will conduct further connection and account checks before starting to charge the vehicle.

How long does it take to charge an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron?

The following table shows approximate times to charge a Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. Times are for a 100% charge.

Note that the times shown are only a guide, as very rarely will an EV need to be fully charged from 0%. Other factors that might vary the charging time include ambient temperature, in-vehicle energy loads, any upper and lower charge restrictions to extend battery life and protect against potential damage, and charging rates slowing down as the maximum charge is reached.

Fast 22kW	Fast 7kW	Slow 3kW
2:15 hours 0-100%	2:15 hours 0-100%	3:45 hours 0-100%

 

The Audi A3 Sportback e-tron is fitted with a 3.6 kW on-board charger for AC charging. This means that even when connected to a fast charger with a rated output above 3.6 kW, the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron will only be able to charge at 3.6 kW.

Use Zap-Map’s Home Charging Calculator to estimate charging times for a Audi A3 Sportback e-tron. The level of battery charge, connector speed, and on-board charger options can be tailored to your requirements for more accurate results.

How much does it cost to charge an Audi A3 Sportback e-tron?

The table shown below shows estimates of the cost to charge the Audi’s A3 Sportback e-tron 8.8 kWh battery at home, on a domestic tariff. Cost estimates are dependent on the charge remaining, usable battery capacity, and age of battery pack. Cost per mile is calculated using an estimate of real-world range.

Type	Cost/kWh	Cost to charge	Cost per mile
Home Standard	14 p/kWh	£1.40	5.8 p/mile

Based on these figures, the Audi’s A3 Sportback e-tron’s fuel costs in electric mode are 5-6 p/mile based on real-world energy usage, the cost depending on the type of charging. In general, home charging provides the cheapest per mile cost and public rapid charging tends to be around double the cost. These fuel costs compare favourably with 12-15 p/mile for conventional petrol and diesel cars.

To find the cost and times to charge an EV on a public charge point, Zap-Map’s Public Charging Calculator calculates charging costs for any new or used plug-in vehicle. The results can be personalised for different electricity costs and the level of charge required.

Charging Audi’s A3 Sportback e-tron at home

Charging at home is often the most convenient and cost effective way to recharge an EV. Government grants are available for the installation of home EV charge points, and a large number of companies offer a fully installed charge point for a fixed price.

Most home chargers are either rated at 3 kW or 7 kW. The higher powered wall-mounted units normally cost more than the slower 3 kW option, but halve the time required to fully charge an EV. Many plug-in car manufacturers have deals or partnerships with charge point suppliers, and in some cases provide a free home charge point as part of a new car purchase.

Charging Audi’s A3 Sportback e-tron on public networks

The UK has a large number of public EV charging networks, with some offering national coverage and others only found in a specific region. The major UK-wide networks include BP Chargemaster (Polar), Ecotricity, Pod Point, and Charge Your Car.

Payment and access methods across networks vary, with some networks providing an RFID card and others a smartphone app to use their services. While most require an account to be set up before use, some rapid units with contactless PAYG card readers are starting to be installed.

Although many EV charge points are free to use, the majority of fast and rapid chargers require payment. Charging tariffs tend to comprise a flat connection fee, a cost per charging time (pence per hour) and/or a cost per energy consumed (pence per kWh). For more information about network tariffs, visit Zap-Map’s public charge point networks guides.