VW Becomes Partners with Elli to Provide Drivers with a Better Charging Experience

What This Partnership Means for the Future of VW Electric Vehicles

For most automobile buyers, switching over to an electric vehicle means one thing – they’ll never have to use a gas pump ever again. That on its own is enough to make anyone seriously consider transitioning over to an EV. For those that are heavy commuters, it could mean potentially saving hundreds of dollars a month on gasoline.

However, switching over to an electric vehicle does mean you will have to get into the routine of charging. The first thing that you need to know is that charging an electric vehicle isn’t free. According to Investopedia, it will cost somewhere between $10 and $30 to charge your electric vehicle, which is significantly lower than the going rate on a tank of gas.

How much it costs to charge your vehicle depends on the type of charger you’re using, the region of the country you’re in, and other factors. For instance, commercial charging rates are often double what residential rates are. Another thing to keep in mind is that you will pay a premium for charging speed. DC Fast Charging – the highest level of charging – can fully replenish a batter in under an hour, but it also costs the most to use.

The Current State of Electric Vehicle Charging

As more and more people switch over to electric vehicles, the general population will get more adept at understanding how vehicle charging works, the pricing, and how to work it into their busy schedules. The singular advantage that gasoline powered vehicles have over electric is they take only minutes to refuel. Long-term, the goal is to make electric vehicle charging faster, cheaper, and more efficient.

Another goal is to make electric vehicle charging easier and more convenient for drivers. This means supporting the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations through infrastructure investments. Electric vehicle charging stations need to be as numerous as gas stations if we intend to make a large-scale conversion over to EV.

Another thing that’s being worked on is investing in the nation’s power grid to ensure that it can handle charging several thousand electric vehicles. The Biden administration has been quite vocal in supporting this measure as a means to reduce our carbon footprint.

The Volkswagen Group has also been actively working to make electric vehicle charging more accessible and user-friendly to support its planned release of several EVs.

The VW Partnership with Elli

The Elia Group along with its startup company re.alto signed a memorandum of understanding with Elli, which is a subsidiary of VW that manages all activities relative to energy and charging for the VW Group in Europe. Each of the parties involved believes that electric vehicle integration is the future of the power grid by aiding its stabilization. This will be made possible because electric vehicle batteries are able to store electricity, which means it’s possible to put electricity back into the grid when it’s needed most.

Elke Temme, CEO of Elli and Senior Vice President of Charging & Energy at Volkswagen AG, said, “An essential key to achieving climate neutrality lies in linking the energy and mobility sectors. Using the electric vehicle battery as a mobile power bank delivers a triple benefit: Firstly, the climate benefits as renewable energy can be stored and therefore be used more efficiently; secondly, the electric grid benefits, as the car can contribute toward grid stability; and thirdly, the customer can earn additional revenue with vehicle-to-grid services.”

In this joint venture, the companies will focus on four main areas, which include:

• Creating incentives for electric vehicle owners
• Creating a market that works for everyone
• Creating a way to securely send data
• Ensuring that data collected is secure and used responsibly

The cooperation between the electricity and mobility sectors with partnerships between companies like VW and Elli are projected to be more commonplace as the electric vehicle market continues to expand and more drivers make the switch.

Finding the Perfect VW Electric Car for Sale Near You in Houston

Now that you know more about the planned expansion for the electric vehicle market and how it will affect the grid, the next step is for you to check out an electric vehicle for yourself. And if you’re going to check out an EV, then it might as well be the best.

The Volkswagen ID.4 was the winner of the 2021 World Car of the Year Award and was recently named one of Wards Best User Experiences. In addition to its future-forward design and loaded feature package, this SUV can get up to 275 miles on a single charge (Pro model). It’s certifiably one of the most sought after new electric cars on the market. The best way to check it out is by paying us a visit here at VW Clear Lake.

Not yet in the market for a VW electric car for sale? No problem! As the leading Volkswagen dealer here in Houston, we carry a wide variety of new cars, used cars, and certified pre-owned vehicles that have undergone a 100+ plus point inspection. Be sure to check out our specials for more great deals on VW products and services.

VW Clear Lake is conveniently located at 15100 Gulf Fwy in Houston. You can also contact us at (832) 432-7969 or email us directly using the contact form on our website.

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