The U.S.-made Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover is getting a new and convenient feature known as plug & charge. This functionality allows owners to simply plug their vehicle into a charger without having to manually input payment details each time.
Starting in early 2024 for the 2023 model year ID.4, owners will be able to utilize this feature at Electrify America DC fast charging stations, according to the German automaker. Electrify America is owned by Volkswagen Group of America, which also produces the ID.4 at the Chattanooga Tennessee assembly plant.
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Easier charging for the Volkswagen ID.4 in the U.S.
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover is getting the plug & charge functionality starting in early 2024. The feature allows owners to simply plug their EVs at Electrify America DC fast chargers without having to swipe a payment card.
To enable plug & charge, ID.4 owners must activate the feature in the Electrify America smartphone app. Then, when they connect their EV to a DC fast charger, the car communicates with the network and automatically starts charging. This eliminates the need for card swiping or manual data entry.
Volkswagen states that owners of the 2023 ID.4 will receive three years of 30-minute DC fast charging sessions with Electrify America and that the new plug & charge feature makes it easier to take advantage of the free charging sessions.
This feature mirrors the convenient functionality that has been available for Tesla owners who recharge their EVs at Tesla Superchargers for many years.
However, it’s important to note that bidirectional charging, which would allow owners to export energy from the EV’s battery and practically turn it into a mobile generator, is not yet available for U.S. market ID.4s. This functionality is offered by Ford, General Motors, and Tesla, among others, in the U.S.
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In Europe, bidirectional charging, also known as vehicle-to-home (V2H) functionality, is available for ID models with the 77-kilowatt-hour (usable) battery pack and ID Software version 3.5 or higher. This includes the facelifted ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7, and ID.Buzz. In the United States, Volkswagen is still “investigating” the feature as of December 2023.
The U.S.-made ID.4 EVs are equipped with either a 62 kWh (gross capacity, 58 kWh usable) or an 82 kWh (gross, 77 kWh usable) battery pack, with rear-wheel drive as standard and the option of an all-wheel drive powertrain.