Date PublishedDecember 19, 2022/ByJewel Lopez

Your Volkswagen Charging Guide

Change is inevitable, and with the world seeking to be more environmentally friendly, people making a shift to cleaner and greener vehicle options, as well as the increasing number of EVs arriving to the market, it’s safe to say that we are stepping into the era of electric vehicles.

Not to mention the rising petrol prices, getting behind the wheel of an electric car may appeal for many kiwis more than ever given the savings on fuel costs. Plus, with the improved battery technologies as well as Clean Car Discount encompassing rebates on both new and used vehicles, it’s no doubt the EV market is heating up in New Zealand.

Volkswagen is on a mission to make stepping into the era of electric vehicles affordable and practical for everyone and aim for Kiwis to have access to emission-free transport by 2025. We showcase the new era of fully-electric and plug-in hybrid options coming soon from Volkswagen on this page.

If you’re considering going electric but are unsure and a little hesitant, we try to simplify everything you need to know, from charging, benefits of switching, to sustainability in this blog.

Continue reading for more information.

Order your new EV

Volkswagen are crafting an electric mobility ecosystem, with the ID. range at the core of this. Currently representing a range of EV SUVs (ID.4 and ID.5) that create an incredible and exhilarating driving experience, they plan to add up to 75 all-electric vehicles to the ID. range before 2030.

The highly anticipated ID.4 and ID.5 have arrived, order yours today.

Order yours or make an enquiry

Charging Your Electric Vehicle: How and Where?

How Can I Charge?

Electric mobility will soon alter the way we refuel our vehicles, allowing you to recharge your vehicle in the comfort of your own home. You can charge the battery in your electric car almost anywhere: at home from a domestic socket, from a Wallbox, at work, at shopping centres, at public charging points, or rapid charging stations. Soon enough you’ll find charging your vehicle as easy as charging your smartphone. It takes only a few simple steps to charge an electric car, and it’s as easy as plugging the charging station or socket and plugging the cable in your car.

Two Types of Charging

Of course, the higher the charging power means the faster the charging power. The time, however, can vary depending on the battery charge state. The fastest way to charge your vehicle is to use a High Power Charging (HPC) stations with charging output of 100kW or more.

AC Charging

AC charging is enabled by a Type 2 connector where the on-board AC/DC charger converts the power from public ac grid into the required direct current. Most public chargers are equipped with at least one Type 2 connector.

AC charging is possible with the Volkswagen ID. Family with 2.3 to 11 kW. Having a Wallbox installed at home allows you to charge upto 11kW.

DC Rapid Charging

With DC charging, the alternating current is converted into direct current before reaching the vehicle e.g the charging station. This enables a higher output during charging, automatically reducing charging time.

The CCS (Combined Charging System) is the common worldwide standard connector and is most used specifically for fast charging and is permanently attached to all DC charging stations.

Where Can I Charge?

At Home At Work While you shop Public charging points

At Home:

Imagine not having to visit your local gas station every time you need to refuel your car. This is the new norm for electric vehicles. While you’ve been resting overnight, your car has also been recharging, ready to tackle your day’s adventure. All you need is a main charging cable (which will already have been provided with your vehicle) which then enables you to charge at any domestic socket.

Charging from a socket: It’s as easy as charging your smartphone. Simply plug the charging cable into the socket and plug the charging connector into your vehicle.
Charging from a Wallbox: If your house has a garage or a carport, installing a Wallbox is the easiest and most convenient solution when it comes to charging your vehicle. A Wallbox provides faster charging time than using a standard wall socket and the charging process is just as simple.

While at Work

Many businesses are gradually electrifying their vehicle fleets and company cars and so are setting up charging infrastructures. Many employers are now offering their staff the option to charge their vehicle at a company charging station. This allows many employees to charge while working.

Soon enough, many more businesses will dive into going electric, so not to worry if your workplace hasn’t implemented it yet!

Volkswagen EV ID.5 charging in carpark with woman walking past

While You Shop

Run your errands and charge your vehicle at the same time with peace of mind. An increasing number of shopping centres, supermarkets, and even furniture stores are gradually setting up their own charging infrastructures, allowing you to make good use of your time and take care of the more important things while your vehicle is charging.

Public Charging Points

Public charging points or rapid charging station numbers are growing every day and continues to spread all throughout New Zealand giving EV drivers a convenient and reliable charging network almost anywhere.

Plugshare is a free EV drivers app accessible for iOS, Android, and web, which allows users to locate the nearest charging stations, leave reviews, connect with other plug-in vehicle owners, and more.

You can also find free charging stations by visiting the ChargeNet website, which also informs you which stations are available and which ones are currently in use.

How Do I Pay for Charging?

Socket and Wallbox: If you charge your car at home via a socket or a Wallbox, the power is of course taken from your household supply and billed as usual as via your electricity provider.
Public Charging Points: When using paid-for public charging points, you can choose to pay via app, charge card, or credit card.
Free Charging: There are also public charging stations where you can charge for free.

Switching and Benefits

There are numerous benefits with electric mobility and in this section, we’ve compiled some of the most important benefits with owning an electric vehicle that go beyond sustainability.

NZ Govt. Rebates available: If you choose to buy a zero or low emission vehicle, you will most likely be qualified for a rebate and in most cases, the lower the emission, the greater the rebate. The amount of rebate you get usually depends on what type of vehicle you purchase as well as the time at which the vehicle is registered. For example, with the all-electric ID.4, you can receive up to $8,000+ Clean Car Rebate (which is a lot of money if you ask me!). If you’re curious to know more, find out more about NZ Govt. Rebates here.

Forward-looking: When it comes to the overall value of electric vehicles, it boils down to assessing two important factors: a competitive range and the durability of the battery. With our fully electric ID. family of vehicles, you can be rest assured that these vehicles are more than adequate in possessing both. Our Volkswagen ID. models offer longer ranges than previous electric models, suitable for everyday use and ensure that they remain competitive for years to come. In terms of the battery’s durability, all ID. models come with an eight-year battery guarantee or 160,000 km.

Low operating costs: One of the benefits of owning an electric car includes simple and cost-effective maintenance and servicing. The most obvious one of course is that electricity costs on charging are significantly cheaper than petrol prices. The costs of charging at home will naturally vary on specific electricity rates by your electricity provider and at public charging stations, the costs will vary in terms of time of day, charging station, and subscription specifics, but will still be significantly cheaper than petrol. Electric vehicles still need to be serviced often, but because they have fewer moving parts compared to a conventional petrol/diesel vehicle, this means you save costs on servicing too. According to the German Institiute for the Automotive Industry (IFA), they found that costs for car maintenance for electric vehicles are around 35% lower.

They’re smooth and quiet: Unlike traditional combustion engines, electric vehicles are famously quiet. Because electric motors don’t require mechanical valves, gears, or fans, it doesn’t produce any engine noise, even while the vehicle is idle. Electric vehicles also offer an exceptionally smooth driving experience and with no gears to work through, electric vehicles are able to apply full power as soon as you step foot on the accelerator.

Sustainability

And lastly, but the most important of all, is the environmental impact of electric vehicles. Volkswagen’s electric and Plug-in Hybrid models are designed to minimise environmental impacts. Volkswagen invests in creating mobility for a future that is not only electrifying, but also sustainable. Driving an electic vehicle has zero tailpipe emissions which means you can help with reducing carbon footprint and driving one doesn’t result in any nasties getting out into the atmosphere. Find out more here about the steps Volkswagen are taking to achieve carbon neutral mobility for all.

Electric FAQs

How far can electric cars go on a full charge?

Based on the most recent WLTP statistics, electric cars can now travel up to 500 km* and their performance is continuously enhancing. Although it used to be widely believed that electric cars couldn’t cover such distances, this notion is rapidly dissipating with the advent of the latest electric vehicle models. Similar to conventional petrol and diesel cars, the range of electric vehicles is impacted by various factors, such as driving conditions, weather, load, tyres, and aerodynamics.

What happens if I end up with an empty battery?

Similar to a gasoline or diesel vehicle, an electric car will alert you when its battery is running low and will even switch to an energy-efficient mode automatically. In the event of any issues, as an electric vehicle driver, you can utilize the Volkswagen breakdown service by contacting our authorised service centre at Miles Continental.

Are there many charging stations in New Zealand?

At present, the electric charging infrastructure in NZ is expanding at a remarkably fast pace, with the number of charging points already surpassing that of fuel stations, and continuing to increase steadily.

Find a changing station in New Zealand.

How long does the battery last?

You’re likely to be pleasantly surprised by how long the batteries last, and performance is improving all the time. The key factor is how often the battery is charged and discharged.

At Volkswagen, we guarantee your battery for eight years or 160,000 km – whichever comes first.

Join the ID. Family

“We believe our model line-up positions us extremely well within the EV market segment. To launch the ID. product range with our mid-sized ID.4 SUV below the New Zealand government clean car rebate threshold of $80,000 was imperative. We believe this will be very important in helping to support our customers that choose to transition to an electrified Volkswagen.” says Greg Leet, General Manager, Volkswagen Passenger Vehicles.

With the ID. range, Volkswagen are creating EVs that not only thrive on urban streets and short distances, but also shine on on the open road, up the mountains, and more. From the ID. range you can expect vehicles that bring together performance, price, and sustainability into a truly incredible array of electric vehicles.

The first additions to the ID. range are set to arrive early 2023. We expect high demand and encourage you to register your interest below.

Help & Advice

Your Volkswagen Charging Guide

Order your new EV

Charging Your Electric Vehicle: How and Where?

How Can I Charge?

Two Types of Charging

AC Charging

DC Rapid Charging

Where Can I Charge?

At Home:

While at Work

While You Shop

Public Charging Points

How Do I Pay for Charging?

Switching and Benefits

Sustainability

Electric FAQs

Join the ID. Family

Order or Ask a Question

Six driving scenarios where IQ.DRIVE Safety Systems come in handy

Cheapest place to charge an EV: Home or Public?

Tips for maximising vehicle range for ID. models

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