Volkswagen ID.3 EV Charging Cable

The entry car has a different charger, and it matters less than you would think

Pure and Pure Performance carry a 7.2 kW onboard charger, and it is capped at 7.2 kW whether you give it one phase or three. Pro, Pro S and GTX carry an 11 kW three phase unit. Packs run 45 kWh usable on the early Pure Performance, 52 on the current Pure, 58 on the Pro, 77 on the Pro S and 79 on the GTX Performance, for 219 to 373 miles WLTP.

The practical upshot is a difference of about three per cent. A Pure takes 7.2 kW at a British house and a Pro takes 7.4, because 11 kW is a three phase rating and a house has one phase. Both sit inside a 32A cable, so the same lead suits the whole range and the trim only matters if you are weighing up whether to chase a three phase supply at work. On a Pure that would gain nothing at all, since its charger is capped either way.

How long a full charge takes

Figures are calculated rather than quoted: battery divided by power, 13 per cent for losses, quarter hour rounding. Miles per hour is worked at 3.5 miles per kWh, a figure that survives a cold morning. Columns are the current Pure, the Pro and the Pro S at usable capacity. The GTX Performance at 79 kWh sits just past the last column.

DC rapid charging climbed sharply through the range and the model years, from 50 kW on the first Pure Performance to 185 kW on the GTX Performance, so a modern ID.3 handles motorway stops without this cable.

Which length for an ID.3

The inlet is on the rear offside, the right hand rear wing. This is one of the few port positions we can say is confirmed not to mirror: an owner thread reports it is on the right rear fender in every market Volkswagen sells into, and Zapmap independently describes it in UK terms as the offside rear flank. The two agree, which is what makes it solid.

The ID.3 is 4.26 metres long. Reverse onto a drive with the charge point on the right and 5 metres reaches comfortably. Nose in, or a wall box on the nearside, and the cable has to travel the length of the car, so 10 metres. The honest way to choose is to measure the real parking position and allow two metres spare.

How these cables are built

IEC 62196-2 construction, CE marked, IP55 sealed and tested from -30C through to +50C.

The three pin cable is built to IEC 62752, CE marked, sealed to IP67 and rated from -30C to +60C. Two year manufacturer's warranty. Delivery is free and next working day, and returns are open for 30 days.

Looking at another Volkswagen? Start with the Volkswagen ID.4 EV Charging Cable, or browse every model in Volkswagen charging cables. For a wall box or public post the lead is the Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable.

Volkswagen ID.3 charging cable questions

What cable does an ID.3 need?

A 32A single phase Type 2 to Type 2 cable on any trim. A Pure draws 7.2 kW and a Pro draws 7.4 kW from a British home supply, and a 32A lead carries either.

Is the Pure slower to charge than the Pro?

Only slightly, and not for the reason people expect. The Pure's charger is capped at 7.2 kW on any supply while the Pro manages 7.4 kW at home, so the difference at a house is about three per cent.

How long does an ID.3 take to charge at home?

From empty at 7.4 kW, about eight hours for the 52 kWh Pure, nine for the 58 kWh Pro and eleven and three quarters for the 77 kWh Pro S.

Which side is the charge port on?

The rear offside, on the right hand rear wing. Volkswagen puts it there in every market, so it is the driver's side on a UK car and it does not swap over.