Volkswagen secures Ampol EV charging partnership

VOLKSWAGEN Australia has announced a charging partnership with Ampol, ahead of its electric ID. range launch later this year, offering a home charger solution and discounted public charging for customers.

The agreement will allow Volkswagen to offer discounted charging rates across Ampol’s growing network of chargers, which currently sits at around 37 sites with 84 bays, for the first 12 months of vehicle ownership.

Specific rates, however, have not been disclosed with Volkswagen confirming it will outline discounted charging details closer to the ID. range launch in the second half of this year.

The partnership will also see Volkswagen roll out Ampol charging infrastructure at each of its 100 dealerships, as it prepares to sell its battery electric range from 2024/25, with charging available to its customers at the sites.

Customers will also have the option to install an AmpCharge home charger, colour-matched to their ID. vehicle, which will include installation and a five-year warranty.

According to Volkswagen, customers will be able to ‘scan’ their garage using a phone camera, via an augmented reality (AR) app, to establish the best location for a home charger ahead of installation.

Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles director Michal Szaniecki, who last year drove an ID.4 2500km between the company’s east coast dealerships, says the agreement is “absolutely crucial to Volkswagen’s stated intention for its Australian EV sales to surpass those of conventional vehicles by 2028.”

“Two giants of personal mobility are helping more Australians transition to lower emissions vehicle ownership more quickly, making seamless their transition to e-mobility,” he said.

“Eighty per cent of charging in urban areas will be done at home, while we are supporting the growing Ampol network on the open road, so this association literally empowers our customers wherever they live around this great country.”

While Ampol lags standalone providers like Evie Networks, which has 585 charging bays nationally, the fuel provider says the partnership represents a step in the right direction.

“We’re proud to partner with Volkswagen Australia and excited to work alongside them to provide charging infrastructure for the rollout of their EV range of vehicles,” said Ampol executive general manager, commercial fuels and energy, Brent Merrick.

“This collaboration with Volkswagen Australia represents another step forward in our continuing e-mobility strategy which is designed to provide a diverse and comprehensive charging network to power customer journeys in the home, forecourt or locations where they need to charge.”

Volkswagen will announce the rates for Ampol public vehicle charging, and wall charger costs, ahead of the ID. range rollout commencing in the second half of 2024.