Volkswagen e-Golf (2014-2019) range, battery & charging
The Volkswagen e-Golf has a big battery that provides a reassuringly long driving range
| Range | Battery size | Wallbox charge time | Rapid charge time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 144 miles | 35.8kWh | 5hrs 15mins (7.4kW, 0-100%) | 36 mins (50kW, 10-80%) |
While even the entry-level Volkswagen ID.3 is capable of over 215 miles on a single charge, the e-Golf’s 144-mile range is more than capable of covering shorter commutes, as well as out of town trips with a little bit of forward planning. While it might not match Volkswagen’s latest electric hatchback, the e-Golf does have a similar range to the MINI Electric (140-145 miles), Honda e (131-137 miles) and BMW i3 (175-189 miles).
Volkswagen e-Golf range
While the e-Golf has a claimed maximum range of 144 miles, depending on your driving style, as well as traffic conditions and the weather, in our experience a range of 130 miles is a realistic expectation for general driving.
That might be plenty if you only use your car for commuting and short trips around town, it remains a weak spot for the e-Golf with rivals like the Nissan Leaf, Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro all offering much longer driving ranges.
If you need to use your e-Golf for longer journeys, you’ll need to factor in a 45-minute stop at a rapid charger when the battery warning light comes on. Thankfully, 50kW rapid chargers are becoming increasingly common across the UK.
It’s also worth considering an e-Golf with the optional included, especially if you’re planning longer journeys. It was an expensive option when the car was new, but in cold weather it saves a substantial amount of battery power by recycling waste heat energy from the drivetrain and ambient air, thus providing a useful amount of additional range.
Charging time
The e-Golf is supplied with a standard three-pin plug charging cable for domestic sockets, with a smart charging unit inline. Volkswagen also provides a Type 2 charging cable for connection to public charging points, or a professionally installed wallbox charger if you have one at home.
The brand partners with Pod Point for home wallbox installations, and the e-Golf uses the CCS rapid charging system, which is becoming the standard charging format, and gives you access to the vast majority of public rapid chargers.
You don't need to buy a cable to use CCS public chargers; all rapid-charging stations have the cable wired in, so just check that the charging point you're aiming for offers CCS charging, and you know the cable will be there.
A regular domestic socket will take a whopping 17 hours to fully charge the e-Golf battery from empty. Fit a 3.6kW wallbox and that figure drops to just under 11 hours, while a 7.4kW wallbox will see you fully charged in under six hours. With access to a 50kW fast charger, a 10-80% charge will take just over 30 minutes.
