GreenPower accredited renewable energy will be used to grid power Audi’s first plug in hybrid electric vehicle in Australia, the A3 Sportback e-tron.

In a ground-breaking arrangement the German manufacturer has partnered in Australia with electricity retailer, Origin Energy (Origin), to provide customers with GreenPower accredited renewable energy to charge the A3 Sportback e-tron’s batteries for the first 10,000kms of electric driving.

The partnership means the electricity (from the national grid) used to power the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron will be displaced by accredited renewable energy sourced from wind, solar, bioenergy and mini-hydro generators, which have zero net greenhouse gas emissions– at no extra cost to the owner.

Origin will add the accredited renewable energy back to the grid on the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron owner’s behalf, further boosting the vehicle’s green credentials by displacing 2.5 tonnes of greenhouse emissions.*

National GreenPower Steering Group Chairman, Gary Eisner, said: “Audi Australia and Origin should be congratulated on this important collaboration to further reduce environmental impacts while motoring. It is a great example of how industry can work together to maximise a product’s green credentials, such as the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron.”

“While plug in hybrid electric and fully electric vehicles are undoubtedly better for the environment than purely fossil fuel powered vehicles, it is important to realise that there can still be greenhouse emissions created via the grid charging of the vehicles. This is because up to 84% of Australia’s electricity is sourced from fossil fuels.”

“That’s where GreenPower renewable energy comes into the equation. The GreenPower Program allows plug in hybrid electric and electric vehicle owners to displace this electricity use with renewable energy by GreenPowering their home or business or by charging their vehicles at GreenPowered charging stations. It’s as easy as contacting a GreenPower Provider, such as Origin Energy, and asking for a percentage, or all, of your annual electricity usage to be GreenPower,” Eisner said.

“You usually pay a small premium for GreenPower, but this goes back to the accredited renewable energy generators. So not only are you reducing your vehicle’s impact on the environment but you are also helping to support Australia’s renewable energy future.”

To see the list of GreenPower Providers in your state or territory click here. For business customers click here.

*Emissions figures calculated using a Grid Emissions Factor of 1:1.