Audi USA offers e-tron buyers free Solar Power
Here comes the sun: Audi teams with Arcadia to offer solar power subscription for eligible Audi e-tron buyers at no charge…a great example of joined-up thinking
The first 3,000 buyers and lessees of eligible 2019 Audi e-tron SUVs delivered on or after February 4, 2020, can receive a 10-year solar power subscription
Solar program can offer savings on electricity bills and help support renewable energy production
Program’s cost savings can offset approximately one full Audi e-tron charge per month per customer
Audi is expanding its collaboration with Arcadia (formerly Arcadia Power), a clean energy platform, to offer customers an industry-first, 10-year subscription to solar power for Audi e-tron SUV drivers at no additional cost. The offer is available to the first 3,000 eligible customers who take delivery of a new or certified pre-owned 2019 Audi e-tron SUV on or after February 4, 2020, while supplies last.
According to current Audi e-tron SUV owners, environmental responsibility is among their top purchase considerations, among other considerations such as quality, design and driving experience expected from Audi vehicles. Audi’s solar program allows drivers to subscribe to remote solar panels located throughout the U.S. at no additional cost. Savings from this solar power are applied directly to the customer’s home energy bill without having to install any hardware.
Ionity charging stations demonstrates another example of ‘joined-up thinking’ and is a joint venture with BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, and Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche.
Each subscription with Arcadia helps generate enough electricity to offset the approximate cost of up to 2,400 miles of driving per year. Subscriptions to the solar projects also help increase nationwide awareness and demand.
Arcadia’s remote solar projects enable customers living within the service territory of a compatible utility to subscribe to a commercial-scale solar project. With lower anticipated cost and environmental impact than fossil fuel energy, the remote solar project sends electricity directly into a local building’s meter or back into the power grid, and, in turn, Arcadia is able to provide subscribers a prorated share of any savings in the form of a credit on their electric utility bills. Through a web- or app-based Arcadia digital platform, members sign up to auto-pay their standard electric utility bill and receive a monthly statement detailing their savings, environmental impact, energy usage and more. Through the Arcadia mobile app and online dashboard, customers can view the details of their solar projects and electricity bills. Because Arcadia’s software is available in all 50 states, the 10-year Audi solar subscription can transfer with the original, eligible e-tron purchasers even if they move residences.
In total, Audi’s solar collaboration with Arcadia has the potential to support approximately 29,000 MWh of solar electricity generation, offsetting the equivalent of 22,000 tons of carbon dioxide, or 2.3 million gallons of gasoline.
How to participateEligible e-tron buyers will receive a welcome email from Audi that includes a link to a personalized enrollment page on Arcadia.com. As part of the enrollment process, customers are asked to link their existing, compatible electrical utility account to Arcadia. This allows customers to pay their electric utility bill through Arcadia and receive potential savings from their remote solar subscription in the form of credits on their monthly bill. Eligible Audi e-tron owners will then start receiving solar savings at no additional cost each month for the next 10 years.