Photo: Volkswagen
The auto industry forever changed this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show, where Volkswagen presented its – and the world's – first electric vehicle for the masses. The ID.3 will begin rolling out next year, but by then Volkswagen plans to have the charging infrastructure in place to make the model a hit.
And that includes supplying its customers with ID.3's purpose-built wallbox charger.
For this side business, Volkswagen has up its sleeve not one but three different wallboxes, designed they say to meet the needs of every type of customer. The only thing that sets them apart though is not capacity, but the level of connectivity.
The entry-level wallbox is called ID. Charger, like just like the other two is a fixed Type 2 cable 11 kW unit. Using it, EV owners could charge the ID.3 with a 58 kWh battery to full capacity in 6 hours, "five times faster than a normal domestic power socket" according to Volkswagen calculations. This solution will sell from €399.
The second wallbox, the ID. Charger Connect, has the same capability as the entry-level, only it adds home network and smartphone connectivity using WLAN or LAN (LTE optionally). This unit is priced at €599.
The top of the range ID.Charger Pro builds on the previous version and adds “an integrated electric meter for precise billing per kilowatt-hour." LTE connectivity is standard, including with a lifetime coverage of the data cost. This one sells for €849.
All these wallboxes will become available for order at the end of November. Volkswagen says they should be pretty straight-forward to install, but should someone feel overwhelmed the carmaker could arrange installation by a professional.
For companies making electric vehicles, the production of home chargers will likely become a lucrative side business. With estimates being that half of the charging operations will take place at home, the wallbox industry is likely to become very crowded real soon.
For this side business, Volkswagen has up its sleeve not one but three different wallboxes, designed they say to meet the needs of every type of customer. The only thing that sets them apart though is not capacity, but the level of connectivity.
The entry-level wallbox is called ID. Charger, like just like the other two is a fixed Type 2 cable 11 kW unit. Using it, EV owners could charge the ID.3 with a 58 kWh battery to full capacity in 6 hours, "five times faster than a normal domestic power socket" according to Volkswagen calculations. This solution will sell from €399.
The second wallbox, the ID. Charger Connect, has the same capability as the entry-level, only it adds home network and smartphone connectivity using WLAN or LAN (LTE optionally). This unit is priced at €599.
The top of the range ID.Charger Pro builds on the previous version and adds “an integrated electric meter for precise billing per kilowatt-hour." LTE connectivity is standard, including with a lifetime coverage of the data cost. This one sells for €849.
All these wallboxes will become available for order at the end of November. Volkswagen says they should be pretty straight-forward to install, but should someone feel overwhelmed the carmaker could arrange installation by a professional.
For companies making electric vehicles, the production of home chargers will likely become a lucrative side business. With estimates being that half of the charging operations will take place at home, the wallbox industry is likely to become very crowded real soon.
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