30 Jun Back to the Future

Museums are defined as “a building or institution where objects of artistic, historical, or scientific importance and value are kept, studied, and put on display”. FMM is no exception, but also keeps up with the times. The museum was honoured to be chosen as one of the country’s first venues to be included in Audi’s nation-wide public charging sites for electric vehicles…

Audi SA in partnership with GridCars has embarked on a programme to install public accessible charging stations across the country. It is the first electric vehicle brand to invest in this technology, which entails installing 70 new EV charge connectors across 33 sites – one of which is FMM – in order to expand on SA’s existing public charging network for all electric vehicle drivers, regardless of vehicle brand or model ownership.

GridCars operates and manages the most extensive network of public charging stations across the country, and has been tasked to implement Audi’s programme, which began in December 2021. Four 150 kW (DC) ultra-fast charging stations enabling +-340 km in 30 minutes are being placed along major highway routes. Five 80 kW (DC) fast charging stations enabling 185 km in 30 minutes will also be placed along major highway routes, one of which will close a long-standing gap (Richmond) on the route between Johannesburg and Cape Town. FMM was one of the first of twenty-four 22 kW (AC) fast-charging stations enabling ±100 km in approx one hour that will be placed at public lifestyle and recreational venues across the country. This investment is in addition to the charging stations installed at the 10 Audi e-tron dealerships that offer additional 50 kW to 75 kW (DC) chargers with 20 connectors.