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The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 EV is the all-electric SUV that everyone’s talking about. But what is it about this model that makes its spark of electricity perfect for the life you lead around Littleton, Parker, or Castle Rock, Colorado?
With a fully charged battery, the 2021 VW ID.4 has an EPA-estimated range of 260 miles, letting you drive on and on before you have to charge up again.1,2 So, how do you get to that full battery capacity? How long does it take to charge the VW ID.4?
We’ve put together this guide here at McDonald Volkswagen to provide the answers you need when choosing a vehicle to make your life more convenient.
| Where can you charge? | At home or on the go at public stations |
| L2 charging (AC) | Full charge in 7.5-11.5 hours3 |
| DC fast-charging | 5% to 80% in 38 minutes4 |
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s define a few terms about charging and electricity itself.
Beyond monikers for music groups, what do the terms “AC” and “DC” mean?
| Alternating Current (AC) | Comes from power grids; needs to be converted to DC |
| Direct Current (DC) | Needs to be converted from AC; powers up electric vehicles |
AC means “alternating current,” and this is what comes right out of power grids. Most vehicle chargers use AC charging, especially the most basic ones, but electric vehicles actually need DC power. When you charge with AC, the power is converted within the vehicle to DC so the battery is charged appropriately.
DC means “direct current.” However, since AC comes from the grid, you can’t just use DC when charging up. A DC charger just means, instead of the vehicle converting the power, the charger itself is converting from AC to DC. That is to say, these chargers are bigger and work to “fuel up” your vehicle faster.
There are plenty of ways to get back up to that full capacity right at home using AC chargers in both Level 1 (L1) and Level 2 (L2) varieties.
Your 2021 VW ID.4 comes standard with an L1 charging cable, but for a faster charge, consider the optional L2 wallbox. What can L2 charging do for you?
Just plug your vehicle into the wallbox overnight to see the results:
The stronger the AC charger, the faster your battery will be at full capacity.
Need to charge up quickly and don’t want to wait for the full battery charge? No problem. At home, you can charge your battery to last for an EPA-estimated 23 to 34 miles in about an hour.5
Home charging is important, but what about when you’re driving and need to charge? Just as you stop at gas stations with gasoline vehicles, you stop at public charging stations for electric vehicles. With over 17,000 public stations located across America, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to recharge.
Public stations offer L2 chargers, but many can provide faster charges than you’d normally get at home by utilizing DC charging.
These DC fast-charging stations offer 125 kW. With that kind of power:
Electrify America is the organization leading the charge of DC fast charging, with over 2,700 of these stations nationwide. Your VW ID.4 provides you with three years of unlimited charging through Electrify America’s stations.
Plug in, juice up, and get ready to take on the world.
Now that you know how long it takes to charge up the VW ID.4 so you can take on Littleton, Parker, or Castle Rock, CO, are you ready to consider this electric SUV?
Contact us at McDonald Volkswagen to see if this is the electric vehicle for you.
1 Model not yet released. All specs mentioned herein have been cited from VW.com and Volkswagen US Media Site and are subject to change by the manufacturer.
2 2021 VW ID.4 Pro EPA-estimated total range is 260 miles. Actual mileage and range will vary and depend on several factors including driving and charging habits, accessory use, temperature and topography, battery age, load, and vehicle condition. Battery capacity decreases with time and use. See owner’s manual for details.
3 Based on an 11kW Level 2 charger for 7.5 hours, and a 7.2kW Level 2 charger for 11.5 hours. Charging times will vary and depend on a variety of factors, including ambient temperature, charger type, battery condition and initial state of charge, vehicle condition and others.
4 VW ID.4 Pro equipped with fast charging capability maximum rate of 125kW. Based on charging at a 125kW or higher charger. Charging times and range will vary and depend on a variety of factors including ambient temperature, charger type, battery age, condition and initial state of charge, vehicle condition, driving and charging habits, accessory use, topography, load and others. Frequent and consecutive fast charging can permanently decrease battery capacity.
5 VW ID.4 Pro charging based on a 7.2kW Level 2 charger for 23 miles in an hour, and an 11kW Level 2 charger for 34 miles in an hour. Charging times and range will vary and depend on a variety of factors, including ambient temperature, charger type, battery age, condition and initial state of charge, vehicle condition, driving and charging habits, accessory use, topography, load and others.
