I heard that as well...being implemented to further save cost. She justified it saying something to the effect that the current US infrastructure isn't really setup to support 11 kW charging. I have a hard time believing VW will change the charger...unless it's only for the small battery option that will be available then. Most people don't have 240A outlets in their garage now anyway and when they go ahead and add a circuit I imagine most people will install a higher capacity line.
I believe it’s for the 58kw battery?
I don't know the capacity of the smaller pack option that's planned with TN manufacturing, but it was her justification of going to smaller charger because of US infrastructure that I disagree with.
I am not much worried about this. For one, such a small change to a circuit board and creating an entirely new part would maybe not be worth the effort. Even if they do, in my scenario, which is likely similar for others, it won't change our experience: I have a super low electricity rate from midnight to 6am. At 7.2 kW I can charge from about 20% to 80% during that time slot. At 11 kW I can charge a bit more, but when exactly is this a relevant use case? Rarely, I think.
With that POV, know that with your 30A claim, you can only put in a 24 Amp EVSE = 6.3 kW output... And a 50 Amp circuit would still only permit a 32 Amp EVSE = 7.2 kW (a 40Amp breaker would suffice). Code is for the circuit breaker to be 125% greater than maximum performance. So with an 11 kW EVSE @48 Amp would need a 240V/60Amp breaker.
Wish that was code in 2015 when we built our house. Or that I had the foresight to have it added during construction. Having to do it now is going to cost me a lot more money. Oh well.In warm weather US states yes, many times the washer/dryer/water heater appliances are in the garage. But rarely in the colder states (water line freezing concerns, not to mention Winter discomfort in using them).
However my electrician friend told me recently that he heard that the ever-evolving national electric code (NEC) will mandate garage 240V rough-in for all homes built in 2022 and on (I spec'd same for my new home in 2017
btw: If the charge capacity degradation for TN-built ID.4's comes to pass just another example of the pitfalls of downstream "value engineering" we discussed elsewhere.
There's also a portion of homes that use gas for the dryer and don't need 240V. As you mention though...again probably mostly in the colder states. In any case, I think derating the charger is a mistake for VW unless it's just an option.
So it's a 1.1kwh level 1 charger ... sad, but it makes my work for EVSE installation clearer now.
The comment that 11kW is non standard for U.S. might have even come from here, back when were discussing that 11kW is a common European 3 phase charge model. With so many Tesla's charging at 11kW (48A), I would be surprised if they did not try to match Tesla, despite that they always say, Model Y, no, not competing with them! The specs pretty clearly say 11 kW, I should think VW of any of the manufacturers would be careful not to spec something wrong or misleading.
