Electric cars FAQs
Most popular electric cars questions
Get answers to the most commonly asked questions about electric cars.
How does recharging an electric vehicle work?
You can simply plug your car into an electric socket using the supplied cable when you come home in the evening and drive off fully recharged in the morning. The power point and electrical installation have to be in good working order and checked by a professional electrician. It’s faster with a wallbox, which can be ordered through a Volkswagen retailer. Or you can fill up at a public DC quick-charge station.
Depending on where you fill up, charging time takes between less than 30 minutes and up to 12 hours:
CCS charging station : up to 30 minutes
Wallbox: 6 to 8 hours
Household 3-pin plug: 10 to 12 hours
For more information on charging, please see our comprehensive guide all about charging.What incentives are available for electric and hybrid car buyers?
There are currently lots of financial incentives to encourage you to make the switch to electric.
The current UK Government scheme is offering up to £2,500 to customers purchasing an electric vehicle with a value of less than £35,000, which significantly reduces the purchase price. You’ll also benefit from no road tax, free parking and charging in some supermarkets, retail and entertainment parks, gyms and even council car parks. Some cities will also let you use the bus lane.
Visit https://www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants to get yourself up to date with the latest Government grant or for our website click here https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/offers-and-finance/finance-calculator to look at your buying options for your electric Volkswagen!
The average London electricity price sits at 14.5p per kWh (source PowerCompare). The e‑up! has a battery capcity of 32.3 kWh and offers a WLTP range of up to 159 miles. Therefore, the cost of full charging totals approximately £4.68 with a cost per mile of £0.03 per mile. On an ID.3 Pro battery of 58kWh this would cost around £8.35 to charge at home from empty to full.*
*All vehicles are tested according to WLTP technical procedures. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and equivalent electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles, vehicle load (and, for battery electric vehicles, the starting charge of the battery). Figures for plug-in hybrid vehicles were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. Plug-in hybrid vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Battery electric vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Zero emissions while driving. Fuel consumption for battery electric vehicles is not applicable. Figures quoted are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes and range figures may include options not available in the UK. Please consult your retailer for further information.
Like most lithium-ion batteries we use every day, such as in our smartphones, the capacity of batteries in electric vehicles will reduce over time through use and charging. This is important to keep in mind when comparing new and used electric vehicles on our website, as the capacity of a used battery will be lower than the capacity of a new battery.
The reduction of battery capacity through use, charging and time is called ‘degradation’. For battery electric cars, degradation is affected by many variables such as charging speed, driving style, charging volume, temperature etc. As a battery ages the capacity will reduce, which means that the battery may need to be charged more frequently and the range achievable in real life may decrease.
You should not rely on new car performance figures (including battery capacity and range) in relation to used vehicles with older batteries, as they will not reflect used vehicle performance in the real world.
All Volkswagen Approved Used BEV’s will receive a multipoint check and a battery health certificate, this will display the current battery health status. The Volkswagen Warranty covers battery degradation to 70% over a period of 8 years or 100,000 miles.
There are no plans to repair the battery due to reduced capacity with aging. However, in developing the battery, we set a very ambitious goal - namely that the battery should still have 70% of its power after 10 years. This assumes a driving distance of 10,000 miles a year. Repairs are only anticipated in case of (slight) damage. However, the damage must be inspected and repairs be conducted by a specialised Volkswagen Retailer. We offer a 8 year / 100,000 mile battery warranty on all our BEV and PHEV models.
The material contained within this section details information for first responders when faced with one of the Volkswagen range of electric or hybrid vehicles, where the high voltage system integrity may have been compromised following an accident or incident.
First responder rescue information for Volkswagen High Voltage vehicles
Emergency services sheet e-up
Emergency services sheet e‑Golf
Emergency services sheet Golf GTE
Emergency services sheet Passat saloon GTE
Emergency services sheet Passat estate GTE
High voltage systems accident assistance recovery FAQs
This information is meant for professional services only. Further information can be found in the owner's manual and at Erwin.volkswagen.de or by contacting our customer service centre on 0800 0833 914
Yes, you can interrupt the charging process, and the battery is not damaged by doing so. The charging process is stopped when you unlock the vehicle. As an option, you can stop the charging process via the Volkswagen CarNet remote app. For more information on charging, visit https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging/guide and download our guide on how to charge an e‑up!
Drivers can normally drive around 25 miles on pure electric driving. The range varies depending on the following factors: your driving speed, how much weight is in the car, e.g. passengers and luggage, the outside temperature, your driving style, particularly acceleration and braking, ascending and descending hills, whether you’re using the heating or air conditioning and the driving mode you select.
e‑up! – up to 159 miles, e‑Golf – up to 144 miles, Golf 8 GTE 39 miles and Passat GTE – around 35 miles depending on spec level, ID.3 Pro around 260 miles depending on spec level and ID.3 Pro S 336 miles - all on the WLTP* test cycle.
*All vehicles are tested according to WLTP technical procedures. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and equivalent electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles, vehicle load (and, for battery electric vehicles, the starting charge of the battery). Figures for plug-in hybrid vehicles were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. Plug-in hybrid vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Battery electric vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Zero emissions while driving. Fuel consumption for battery electric vehicles is not applicable. Figures quoted are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes and range figures may include options not available in the UK. Please consult your retailer for further information.
Through our We Charge App we provide digital access to more than 150,000 charging points all over Europe to help you plan routes and navigate to available stations. If you are going on a long journey or holiday and still feel anxious about charging options and have our Lease&Care Large care package, this includes 5 days per annum VWFS Rent-a-Car allowance of a non-electric vehicle providing you with added peace of mind on those longer journeys. If you wanted a car for longer or have the Small and Medium Lease&Care package, you can still take advantage of our 20% discount car rental with VWFS Rent-a-Car scheme*, further information can be found here. For details on our Lease&Care finance packages, please see information within our Electric car section here.
*VWFS Rent-a-Car 20% offer T&Cs: Car rental 18s+ only subject to availability, 20% off car rental (T&Cs apply) is valid on the cost of the vehicle rental and the Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) but does not include Enhanced Collision Damage Waiver (ECDW) or any optional extras. Online booking is not available for 18-20 year old, please contact us - 0330 100 8933. Please refer to the terms and conditions of your package.
No, DC charging the battery is fairly linear up to around 80%. For the remaining 20%, the charging power is continuously lowered to protect the battery.
At Volkswagen we are not happy to just build cars with lower C02 emissions, instead with the ID.3 we have created it net carbon neutral.
Once you’ve purchased an electric or hybrid vehicle, Elli or PodPoint can help you to apply for a government OZEV grant. The supplier will then schedule an installation at a time that suits you, do a pre-installation consultation, fit your charge point and give you a demonstration to make sure you understand how it works. It’s as easy as that. Visit here on our webstie to find out more about installing a home charger https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging/installing-a-charge-point
To help you get the most from your electric or hybrid car, we recommend a few user friendly apps: PodPoint: helps you find public pay-as-you-go charging points. Chargemaster: a subscriptipn network which offers great value for electric vehicle owners who regularly charge away from home. Ecotricity: helps you find public pay-as-you-go charging points for Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV). ZapMap: gives you a map of all public charge points. Car Net: is our app that lets you control a whole host of features in your car. For example, you can use it to remotely stop/start charging your car, check the battery charge status. To find out more about the apps listed above, check out https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging/apps . We also recommend if you own an ID.3 to utilise the We Connect ID app which also incorporates the We Charge service.
It’s easy to find electric and hybrid charge points when you’re out and about. You can use the ZAP-MAP app or website, or click here https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging/apps to check out our list of recommended charge point apps. You can also use the Discover Navigation infotainment system in your car.
The We Connect / We Connect ID [also known as e-Remote] is an app which stores all of your e-Volkswagen’s data in your smartphone. It can be used to find out where the nearest place to charge up is, where you parked your car, and the battery’s charge level. The e-Remote can also set your air conditioning levels.
e‑up!, Golf GTE and Passat GTE come with 2 cables: 5 metre 3-pin Mode 2 mains cable (10amps / 2.3 kW), used for mains charging 5 metre Mode 2 cable (16amp / 3.6kW), used for public charging points. e‑Golf comes with 2 cables: 5 metre 3-pin mode 2 mains cable (10amps / 2.3 kW), used for mains charging 5 metre Mode 2 cable (32amp / 7.2kW), ID.3 comes with 6 metre Mode 2 cable (32amp / 7.2kW). Used for public charging points visit https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging for more information on charging your electric Volkswagen.
We recommend a getting a wallbox from Elli https://www.elli.eco/en/charger
On GTE cars the driving modes are as follows: E-mode: Electric only, this driving mode produces zero emissions Hybrid: Powered by electric until the car needs petrol, the switch is seamlessly automatic Battery Charge: The car’s petrol engine will drive the car while also charging the battery Battery Hold: This mode uses the petrol engine to drive the car and switches off the battery to conserve energy GTE modes: Combines both petrol and electric engines to produce 204PS. On the e‑up! and e‑Golf the driving modes are as follows: Normal: The car operates at full power and with full capacity heating ECO: The car operates with a top speed of 72mph with an output of 94PS. The air conditioning and heating systems work at a lower power ECO+: The car operates with a top speed of 56mph with an output of 74PS. The air conditioning and heating are switched off. For the ID. Family the modes are Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual.*
*All vehicles are tested according to WLTP technical procedures. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption, CO2 and equivalent electric range figures with other vehicles tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles, vehicle load (and, for battery electric vehicles, the starting charge of the battery). Figures for plug-in hybrid vehicles were obtained using a combination of battery power and fuel. Plug-in hybrid vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Figures for battery electric vehicles were obtained after the battery had been fully charged. Battery electric vehicles require mains electricity for charging. Zero emissions while driving. Fuel consumption for battery electric vehicles is not applicable. Figures quoted are subject to change due to ongoing approvals/changes and range figures may include options not available in the UK. Please consult your retailer for further information.
This is a car with a petrol engine and small number of battery cells so that the car can drive on electric power when travelling under 30 mph. It switches to the petrol engine at higher speeds. This is more efficient than a pure petrol car, but the mild hybrid cannot be charged using a charge-point; it is charged from driving the car on the petrol engine. An example of this is the Golf 8 eTSI engine.
Elli is our sister brand of charging for the ID.3 along with Pod Point are our recommended electric and hybrid vehicle charge point supplier. They supply and install home, workplace and public charge points to charge your car. Their charge points are available with different connection types and speeds, and if you’re looking to install one at home they’ll be happy to help you choose the one that’s perfect for you. Finding out more by looking here: https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging/installing-a-charge-point Point and installing a home charge point.
No, the charging process stops by itself when it is finished. For more information on charging, visit https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/electric/car-charging/guide and download our guide on how to charge an e‑up!
The displayed ranges are calculated based on the most recent fuel consumption. The range depends on speed, driving style, switched-on appliances (especially air conditioning, heating and music), outside temperature, maximum load and topography. The calculation of the electric range is based on the last 13 miles you’ve driven – this gives the most accurate estimation. You’re most likely to see between 25 and 35 miles of electric range showing after a full charge.
No. The charge will depend on the level of charge in the battery, customer settings and possibly any set departure time. One thing that maybe noticed is, even if a timer charge is set, the system may start to charge as soon as it's connected to a charge station. An example here is; if the lower charge threshold is set to 20% and the battery it at 15% when the power is connected, the charge will start immediately, even if the timer is set, once the 20% threshold is achieved, the charge will stop and will only restart on the instructions of the timer or by the intervention.
