As the industry makes the transition from fossil fuels to electricity, car brands are helping to take over aspects of energy provision. This is usually in the form of branded wallboxes. Volkswagen has jumped on the bandwagon with their ID-branded wallbox, the ID.Charger.
Here’s the press release with an explanation on how they’re rolling these out.
PRESS RELEASE
With the ID.Charger, customers will be able to charge their e-cars quickly and conveniently at home in the future. Here’s what you need to know about the socalled “Wallbox”, made by Volkswagen. Included are three info graphics and a video.
The rapid development of the charging infrastructure will be a decisive factor in determining how quickly electric mobility will become established. With the joint venture IONITY, Volkswagen is not only pushing ahead with the expansion of fast-chargers on motorways, but is also focusing on charging at home. After all, around half of the charging sessions are performed at home. With the ID.Charger, Volkswagen is launching the corresponding Wallbox on the market in parallel with the ID.31. This is what you need to know about the ID.Charger.
1. What charging capacity does the ID.Charger offer? In Germany and other European markets, all three versions of the ID.Charger will be equipped with a three-phase 11 kW power supply. This allows the ID.3 1st to be fully charged in around 6 hours. With single-phase connection, the ID.Charger provides up to 7.4 kW charging power.
2. How long is the charging cable? The fixed charging cable has a length of 4.5 meters. A 7.5 meter long charging cable is also available as an option.
3. Can I also charge an e-Golf or e-up! with the ID.Charger? The ID.Charger can be used to charge all electric vehicles with type-2 connections. This covers almost all conventional electric cars in Europe, including e-Golf and e-up! Since the ID.Charger is targeted to the ID. family, it offers the full range of functions only in combination with an ID. model
4. When and how can I buy an ID.Charger? The ID.Charger is a fixed component of the ID. family and will therefore go on sale in parallel with the ID.3 during the first half of 2020. The first ID.Chargers are initially intended exclusively for our pre-bookers of the ID.3 1st Edition, before the offer is rolled out to other Volkswagen e-vehicles as well. The start date for the general market roll-out is currently still open. The Wallbox will be available both from Volkswagen dealers and online.
5. How does the installation work? Volkswagen offers a complete installation package on request. The complexity and costs depend on the local situation and cannot be given as a flat figure. If there is already a power cable at the site, the ID.Charger can usually be installed quickly. The installation package in Germany will include 15 meters of cable and two wall openings. We assume that around 80 percent of all applications can be covered with this package and that no additional costs will be incurred. Installations will be carried out by accredited partner companies and will start in the run-up to the market launch of ID.3 in summer 2020.
6. Can the ID.Charger also be installed outdoors? Yes, the ID.Charger is equipped with IP54 level protection against dust and water spray on all sides. It can therefore be generally installed outdoors.
7. How secure is the ID.Charger? The ID.Charger meets all relevant standards, has been developed in accordance with Volkswagen development standards and is certified by an independent institute. It is also equipped with an integrated DC fault current sensor, thus offering maximum safety.
8. Do I need to register the ID.Charger with the local utility company? Yes, an announcement is obligatory. The formalities are usually carried out by the electrician appointed as part of the installation process.
9. Is the ID.Charger compliant with calibration law? The ID.Charger Pro comes with a MID-compliant electricity meter. Thus the requirements of the German calibration law are fulfilled in relation to the current measurement. However, it is not possible to sell electricity to third parties (public charging) in compliance with calibration law in Germany.
10. Can the ID.Charger be operated together with a photovoltaic system? Parallel operation of the photovoltaic system and ID.Charger is possible with all versions. With the networked variants Connect and Pro, an intelligent control of the solar power is planned in connection with ID.3 – they charge when the solar power is generated. When this function will be available and whether it can also be offered via software updates for ID.Charger already in operation is currently still open.
11. How much does the ID.Charger cost? The basic version starts in the introductory phase at 399 Euros including VAT plus shipping costs. The top model ID.Charger Pro with full connectivity costs 849 Euros including VAT plus shipping costs. The running costs of the LTE data connection are already included for the entire service life of the box.
12. Is there any additional government funding? So far, state support for private wallboxes exists only at the municipal level. This means that some municipalities and cities support the development, others not. Interested parties should therefore contact their local authorities and municipal companies. In addition, the federal government has promised nationwide funding for the development of private charging points. The corresponding regulations are currently in the legislative process. When and to what extent this funding can be obtained is currently still open. The German Federal Ministry of Transport will provide information on the funding possibilities in Germany in due course.
Three versions of the ID.Charger
ID.Charger
The basic version for 399 Euro offers high end quality and at the same time an attractively priced charging solution. The simple operation, the permanently connected type 2 charging cable and a charging capacity of up to 11 kW make charging at home very convenient. The modern design fits perfectly with the new ID.3. In addition, the Wallbox has a compact and robust design with integrated DC residual current protection for maximum safety.
ID.Charger Connect
With the intelligent ID.Charger Connect, charging becomes digital and smart. The Wallbox can be connected to the home network and smartphone via W-LAN or LAN. As an additional option, the connection via a cellular network (LTE) is also possible. Customers can keep an eye on usage and charging progress and benefit from practical functions such as app control, remote maintenance, access control via charging card and regular software updates. The price for the ID.Charger Connect starts at 599 Euro.
ID.Charger Pro
The ID.Charger Pro is the top of the range Wallbox model and has, in addition to the digital functions and standard LTE module, an integrated electricity meter for kilowatt-hour billing. It thus offers even more transparency with regard to electricity requirements and enables, for example, convenient billing between company car drivers and employers. The ID.Charger Pro costs from 849 euros at market launch. The LTE data costs are already included for the entire service life of the box.
