Volkswagen ID.4 Charging Options

Last updated May 31st, 2023

There has never been a better time to buy an electric vehicle. Growing concern over the environment is turning many people towards electric cars as they search for ways to reduce their ecological footprint and help the environment, and the infrastructure needed to use these new cars is expanding by the day.

Most drivers have little, if any, experience with electric vehicles. Most drivers have never even driven an electric vehicle. As electric cars increase in popularity, questions about them are abundant, and one of the most common ones is this: how do I charge my electric vehicle?

This article will examine the charging options available for Volkswagen's new electric vehicle, the 2021 ID.4. While this advice is somewhat specific to this car, it will prove helpful to anyone interested in an electric vehicle.

Benefits of Electric Charging

Several surveys show that one of the main obstacles for drivers in switching to electric vehicles is what to do about charging. After all, it can't be as simple as stopping at a fuel pump and pumping gasoline, right?

The good news is that charging your electric vehicle can be simpler than you think, not to mention all the benefits of charging vs. liquid fuel, especially since charging can be done at home. In contrast, your vehicle is parked, while you must take time out of your day to pump gasoline. And the options for charging your electric vehicle grows every day between at-home charging, public charging stations, and DC fast chargers.

An electric vehicle also has a vast potential for cost savings. According to the EPA, or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, at 13 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity and 15,000 miles per year, charging at home with the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 could save you, on average, at least  $600 - 700 per year compared to driving a new vehicle that gets average fuel economy at the same distance. That could add up to $3,000 - $3,500 in fuel savings in five years.

As the United States works to move towards more kinds of renewable energy and alternate sources of lower- or zero-carbon energy, that can help make your electric vehicle even better for the environment. This is why Volkswagen Group has committed over $30 billion to build millions of electric cars.

All You Need to Know About Electric Vehicle Charging

Like anything new, it can be daunting to think about the differences between traditional combustion engines and the routine of going to the gas station compared to the new idea of charging your car. The easiest way to wrap your head around it is to rethink how your vehicle gets its energy. The two main things to consider are how much energy an EV charger can deliver and how much energy your truck can hold.

An EV charger like a 120-volt, or Level 1, charger is best for occasional or last-minute charging. This kind of current is small and will provide little energy very quickly. You can think of it like filling up your bathtub with a teacup. You can do it eventually, but filling the whole thing up will likely take a long time.

Most Volkswagen ID.4 owners will choose to add a Level 2 charger at home, which typically requires a 240-volt plug such as those used for large household appliances or are hardwired into your circuits. The biggest obstacle to a Level 2 charger is that it can have various energy levels. Only some-electric vehicles can take as much energy as Level 2 EV chargers can deliver.

To make sure your Level 2 charger can work properly, you can look at the amperage rating or how much electricity the charger pulls. This number can range from 12 amps to 80 amps, although finding ones between 16 amps and 30 amps is more common.

The quickest way to recharge any electric vehicle is to use a DC fast charger or a direct current fast charger. Using industrial-grade transformers and special plugs, units can provide a large DC flow that batteries can absorb much faster.

Volkswagen ID.4 Charging Options

While there are several styles of EV chargers, there are ultimately two places to charge your electric vehicle: at home or on the road. While at-home charging seems a lot simpler since you can set it while you're sleeping, there are still plenty of options to charge your Volkswagen ID.4 on the road quickly.

Home Charging the ID.4

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 80 percent of EV charging today happens at home. This is understandable considering the range of many electric vehicles, as most EVs have a range of less than 200 miles and generally aren't used for long-distance trips. While the infrastructure is still in development, companies such as Volkswagen and Electrify America are making it easier daily to access electric vehicle charging on the road, wherever you want.

You can simply plug your electric vehicle into a standard outlet for home charging. This will net you about 2 miles of range per hour spent on the charger. It will, therefore, take a few days to charge the vehicle completely. Most people will find this to be painfully slow. Thankfully, one can take easy steps to increase their charging speed with at-home outlets.

Upgrading to a 40-amp outlet increases the rate to about 27 miles per hour of charging. A 48-amp outlet sees this rate increase to 32 miles per hour the vehicle is hooked up. It will only take about eight hours to charge at that point, meaning that the car can be filled up, so to speak, overnight.

An important thing to keep in mind is that you do not want to charge your vehicle to 100% night after night. This is not good for the battery pack. If you took the car to the grocery store and the mall, let it sit overnight and then charge it the following evening.

Special Home Chargers for the Volkswagen ID.4

There are a variety of special home chargers available for purchase. The ID Charger series is made by VW specifically for the VW ID.4 and other VW electric cars. You should have it professionally installed, but it's worth the cost. There may be tax credits available for this installation cost. These are powerful, outputting as much as 50 amps. That means you can charge the vehicle in less than 8 hours! Some other companies make chargers that fit all-electric cars. These are available at standard retailers, such as Walmart.

Charging the VW ID.4 on the Road

If you're not already the proud owner of an electric vehicle, you might need to realize how many charging stations exist. In general, there are over 46,000 public charging stations nationwide. Around 6,000 are DC fast-charging stations, and about 4,300 are available to Volkswagen ID.4 owners with its standard CCS plug.

The Public Charging Station Network

Drivers want to be able to travel across the country in their electric vehicles, and the infrastructure to do so does exist. Public charging stations are often DC fast charging stations. These are powerful: an ID.4 can get 60 miles of range by spending 10 minutes plugged into one. Sadly, these stations require specific electrical hardware and are generally unavailable for residential use.

How to Locate an EV Charger

Companies like Electrify America are working to make electric vehicle charging more and more accessible every day. With a growing network of over 800 charging stations from coast to coast along significant highways and cross-country routes, EV drivers can travel further than ever before.

To locate a charging station through Electrify America, you can download the Electrify America app, input your enrollment code that comes from your Volkswagen Dealer, and select the ID.4 Charging Plan. Input your vehicle's 17-digit VIN for verification, then get ready to charge. You must enter a payment method 4 to cover any incurred Idle Fees 5 or applicable taxes. Still, the Volkswagen ID.4 comes with three years of public DC fast charging on the Electrify America network for no additional cost at the time of your purchase.

Volkswagen ID.4 at a Dealer Near You

There has never been a better time to purchase an electric vehicle. The necessary infrastructure grows every day, and with a global push for better climate practices, the government is likely to enact subsidies to make electric vehicle ownership even more affordable.

While some electric vehicles can have a higher initial price tag, the savings you get with electric vehicles and charging over traditional gasoline usage is worth it. Electric vehicles can be a significant change for some, and VW's ID.4 is one of the best options in this category. 

Even better, the ID.4 is one of the vehicles we proudly offer here at Evans Volkswagen. If you're ready to switch to an EV, or if you're curious and have more questions, stop by or call us. Ask about taking one out for a test drive, or stop by to look closer at the Volkswagen ID.4. Our team is here to answer all your questions and help you find a perfect vehicle.