Children enjoying life with an electric car

Your EV questions, answered.

You asked, we listened. Read on to charge up your EV confidence.

Did you know, that over 90% of drivers^*who go electric never look back?

For Kate Jeffreys, EV Business Lead at Volkswagen, it speaks volumes about vehicle range, public charging and cost of ownership. Here to answer your questions, Kate explains why electric driving isn’t all that different from what you already know, but you will end up plugging-in to some surprising benefits…

^{*Source: Article published on Fleetworld in 2023. More details: https://fleetworld.co.uk/more-than-9-in-10-ev-drivers-would-not-return-to-ice-vehicles/}

Hello Kate, our customers are worried about ‘range anxiety’. Should they be?

There’s been some bad press about EV practicality, but people shouldn’t be put off because the technology is improving so fast. The maximum range, on a full charge of Volkswagen EV cars can be up to 346 miles¹ on an ID.3, and up to 436 miles² on the ID.7, depending on trim. Compare that to the average UK commute of 20 miles a day^**, and most people could use an EV five days-a-week without charging. In the UK, the average amount of time a car is spent parked is 22 hours a day^*** so there’s a huge window of opportunity to charge, whether at home, in the office, or even when you’re shopping.

^{** Source: Insight article on mobilityways.com. More details: https://www.mobilityways.com/insights/cost-of-living-and-commuter-trends/
*** Source: Insight article on mobilityways.com. More details: https://www.mobilityways.com/insights/cost-of-living-and-commuter-trends/}

How long does it take to charge an EV battery to 100%?

You don't need to completely drain or refill an EV’s battery. Regular ‘top-ups’ when you stop for breaks is a better use of time and is better EV etiquette. We recommend charging to 80% because it’s not only quicker but is also better for your battery. A 52-kWh battery running low can be charged to 80% in as little as 25 minutes at a fast-charging station (with a maximum charging capacity of 145 kW)³. But the last 20% takes longer to complete as capacity reduces, so charging to 100% can cause unnecessary delays. In the coming years we can expect that these times will be significantly reduced too. Once you’ve got used to that routine, you’ll be less focused on your battery level and be able to enjoy worry-free journeys with shorter stops.

What’s better? Charging at home, or at public charge points?

For those that can, the ideal scenario is to charge at home and use public infrastructure on the move. We partner with Ohme, our home wallbox provider who guide you through the process when you’re getting started. They’ll do all the hard work for you. Public charging is improving too. From May last year, the number of public charge points have increased in the UK by 43%^****. New regulations mean by the end of 2024 all sites must be 99% reliable, accept contactless payments, and have a free 24/7 customer service phoneline if issues occur. It’s such a helpful community though, there’s nearly always someone at a charge point willing to give advice or have a chat.

^{**** Source : ZapMap data. More details: https://www.zap-map.com/ev-stats/how-many-charging-points}

Do our customers need an app to charge their VW EV?
You can plug-in at home with or without the Volkswagen app. In public, we recommend using our We Charge card, which opens up over 29,000 high-quality charge points throughout the UK and 600,000 across 27 European countries, including IONITY’s high-power network.

Is driving an EV cheaper, compared to an internal combustion car?
Upfront costs of new EVs can be more expensive, but lifetime ownership costs can actually be reduced. Using a Smart Charger like Ohme at home linked to an EV energy tariff with our recommended partner OVO , can significantly reduce your overall fuel costs. For example, you’ll pay an estimated 2 pence per mile⁴ with an ID.3. And compared to a petrol or diesel vehicle, it generally costs less to service an EV, because there are fewer moving mechanical parts.

Can customers compare cars and running costs across the VW range?
You can compare all of our EVs with any other model or make across manufacturers using our Car Comparator. Have a browse through our Running Costs page. There’s loads of information on ways you can save money by driving electric.