Charging without barriers at Audi: challenge accepted

Gerd Schönfelder: Public charging stations must be accessible for all electric car drivers, including people with mobility needs. With its barrier-free features like the swivel arm and the height-adjustable display, the Audi charging hub is a great place for people like us with disabilities to charge their cars in a comfortable environment quickly. In my opinion, however, everybody benefits from the barrier-free concept at this charging facility.

Uwe Herrmann: I’m still driving a car with a gasoline engine, but everything I’ve heard about e-mobility to date sounds positive. And the Audi charging hub looks promising, too. Sometimes, I have to ask for help filling up my current Audi SQ5 when the car is in an awkward position. But that could soon change with an electrically powered Audi at a charging point like this. For me, it’s important that the car doors open wide, and I have room to lift the wheelchair over me and onto the passenger seat. So, I really value the memory function for electric seat adjustment, which automatically moves the driver’s seat to the correct position. With Audi models, I’ve never had any problems. I come from a VW family - my uncle was an executive chauffeur for Volkswagen. My first Audi model was an Audi 80 Avant, which I got in 1994, and then came an A4, an A3, an A6, a Q5, a Q7, a Q3, and an A7, in that order. The modifications I needed always worked perfectly. When I changed the car, the fitters took the components out of the old one and put them in the new one.

Schönfelder: With the Q4 e-tron, the driving aids are actually available from the factory. Changing from a gasoline engine to an electric model was a big adjustment for me. But I was curious and have never regretted it. You have to plan a little more before undertaking longer journeys. I find the e-tron route planner very useful here, especially for getting to the Audi charging hub or IONITY, where I can charge in comfort. Then I have a relaxing drive, particularly as I start out earlier due to the charging stops, and reach my destination in a calm frame of mind. In this way, I almost always have time to spare. While the car is charging, I can drink a coffee – out of a proper cup to boot. As I drink, I work on my laptop. I’ve now clocked up 50,000 kilometers. With my new Q4 e-tron, I can even charge at a rate of up to 175 kW, which makes charging times at fast-charging stations even shorter.

Herrmann: Storage space is very important for me. After all, I have to take my wheelchair wherever I go. The accessibility features at the Audi charging hub would definitely make my life easier. When I go to the gas station today, I look for somebody to go with me because of my personal needs. Moreover, with an electric model, I could charge my car at my workplace. I think it’s important for cities and municipalities, as well as for manufacturers and operators, to implement our requirements regarding accessibility.

Schönfelder: Agreed. Just like Audi is. Charging at the Audi charging hub is not only fast but comfortable. I’ve been to the charging hub in Nuremberg, which has a 200-square-meter lounge, three times now. For me, the ability to charge my car there quickly and easily without barriers is a major argument in favor of e-mobility. When I’m on longer trips, I want to make use of HPC options. Furthermore, Audi's charging service offers a convenient way of charging your car quickly and inexpensively at various providers during a journey. Just hold out your card, and bingo! But for people with disabilities, it’s not only the charging itself that has to be convenient and well-designed but also the environment. And Audi has got their eye on the ball here.