Audi e-tron features at Electric Avenue

The all-electric Audi e-tron is a star attraction at Big Boys Toys’ Electric Avenue at the 21^st Big Boys Toys in Auckland on November 1-3.

The e-tron will feature alongside ABB chargers at site 3040 in the top half of the Driven Hall at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane.

ABB New Zealand and Audi New Zealand have partnered on charging for the e-tron, Audi choosing the ABB Terra 54 charger as a base, offering a 50kW DC charger delivering the EV 400km of range to its 95kWh battery in two hours.

Some Audi dealerships are also installing the ABB Terra High Power charging unit (HPC), the 175kW DC chargers able to top up the e-tron to 80% within 40 minutes.

It’s the first fully electric vehicle from Audi to utilise this charging infrastructure and can also be charged at home using normal 240-volt AC power to top up.

With two electric motors and a total output of 300kW and 664Nm of torque, the e-tron can get to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

All 10 Audi dealers will have 50kW chargers installed by the end of November, Audi New Zealand general manager Dean Sheed says, adding that’s a country first for any brand.

“Additionally, Archibald Audi in Christchurch and Giltrap Audi in Auckland will have 175kW HPC units installed before year end, setting a new benchmark nationally,” Sheed says.

“In early 2020 Farmer Audi in Tauranga will have an additional 175kW HPC unit installed as well.

“From our knowledge this also leads HPC units by any company nationally.”

Two other sites are doing business plans for the upgrades.

“It’s all part of providing a premium service to our customers and the public alike and setting our businesses up for future models that can take HPC units.”

Electric Ave will also see demonstrations of products and trends in EVs, e-bikes, e-scooters and more and is being co-ordinated in conjunction with ChargeNet NZ.

Big Boys Toys event director Dean Wilson says electrics have an exciting future and are becoming a bigger part of the show’s mix, with EVs like the e-tron expected to prove a popular attraction.

For the first time, Big Boys Toys also has the Electrifying Conversations Conference on November 1.

Dee West’s new podcast of the same name will cover the whole picture of sustainability and energy independence in New Zealand, as well as new zero-emission technology advances from around the world.

Keynote speakers include Philippe Vangeel, the European Association for Electromobililty (AVERE) secretary general talking about the European EV market and transportation switch, electric motorcycle land speed record setter Eva Hakansson, Kiwi tech entrepreneur and Xero founder Rod Drury, and electrical engineer and Dynami chief executive officer Sergio Baron discussing battery technology.

Following immediately on from the conference, a convoy of about 20 EVs will hit the road with invited guests covering more than 1000km from November 3-8.

About 50 people are expected on the road trip from Auckland to Wellington, including stops along the way for EV rides and drives, a journey down the Forgotten Highway and more.

Contact Hayley Davey at hayley@electrifyingconversations.co.nz, phone +64 (0)21 757 967 or visit here for tickets and further information.

Visit here for more show details.