“Electro­mobility helps me relax”

In the middle of the alpine countryside, in a small village in Austria, stands the Veith family’s "Arx Hotel". Nature fans come here, and among them are often guests who arrive with an electric vehicle. With the two charging points on the hotel grounds, Veith says they are well-equipped today – but for the future, should demand increase, there would be room for more charging points. "In recent years, more and more people with electric cars have been coming to our hotel," says the former ski racer. "I often get to talk to them about electromobility," she says. Over time, this has created a "community of its own," she adds. "It's so exciting to learn what people experience with their electric cars. Especially those who travel long distances," continues Veith.

The Olympic and world champion has been driving an Audi e-tron GT quattro  for over two years. Since then, her life has changed in a positive way. "As an athlete, I learned to get from A to B as quickly as possible in order to have more time afterwards," she says. Today, she travels very differently. More stress-free. "Electromobility helps me relax and forces me to schedule more breaks," she says. Depending on the type of charging station, the battery of the Audi e-tron GT quattro  is recharged to 80 percent in just under 20 minutes. "I associate the charging breaks with quality of life, because this way I'm much more relaxed both on the road and in my life."

Three questions for Anna Veith on electromobility

01. Which detail of your Audi e-tron GT quattro  do you like best?
I really like the panoramic roof. You don't even notice it from the outside, but it's made entirely of glass. The rear seats are often less popular than the front passenger seat, for example, because you see less from behind, but in the Audi e-tron GT quattro  you always have a special experience even in the rear seats thanks to the large sunroof.

02. What has surprised you most about electromobility?
I was once allowed to take part in the Audi driving experience on ice with my Audi e-tron GT quattro. That's when I pushed the car to its limits and realized that, despite the "E," it has a lot in common with skis: the fast turns, feeling the centrifugal forces and playing with the grip. I thought that was great.

03. Do you see yourself as a pioneer of a new era?
With my popularity, I bear a certain responsibility and act as a role model, something I consider a privilege. I'm making more and more decisions in favor of sustainability, which is why - and because I wanted to be a pioneer - I opted for the electric engine. I'm so thrilled that I wouldn't switch again. h als Privileg empfinde. Ich treffe immer mehr Entscheidungen zugunsten der Nachhaltigkeit, deswegen – und weil ich Vorreiterin sein wollte – habe ich mich für den elektrischen Antrieb entschieden. Ich bin so begeistert, dass ich nicht mehr tauschen würde.