[Timbobh]

Hey Y'all!

I'm arranging to have a level 2 Charger installed in my garage soon. I'm wondering where people have decided to place their charger in the garage? To get into the garage, we have a door on the right hand side near the front (close to the garage door) when facing the garage. I wish VW had put the socket on the car up front. Where it is on the back of the car, it seems like the cord/door will constantly be in the way for either passengers or the driver of our second car. Right now I am thinking that the best place will be toward the back right corner of the garage so I can drag the cord closely along the passenger side of the car in order to impede the least on the rest of the garage space, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts on placement.

 

[Lxtruong]

Hey Y'all!

I'm arranging to have a level 2 Charger installed in my garage soon. I'm wondering where people have decided to place their charger in the garage? To get into the garage, we have a door on the right hand side near the front (close to the garage door) when facing the garage. I wish VW had put the socket on the car up front. Where it is on the back of the car, it seems like the cord/door will constantly be in the way for either passengers or the driver of our second car. Right now I am thinking that the best place will be toward the back right corner of the garage so I can drag the cord closely along the passenger side of the car in order to impede the least on the rest of the garage space, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts on placement.

Oh it sounds like your door is poorly positioned vis a vis the charging port. The best idea is probably what you suggested. Another idea is to start backing into your garage and have the charger on the back left of the garage.

 

[Huey52]

I had my 6-50 240V wire roughed-in when my "retired-downsized" home was built 3-years ago, obviously long before I knew I'd be getting an ID.4 and where the "fuel door" on it would reside. But actually it wouldn't have made much difference as my electrical panel in the basement is nearby the front of the garage bay and nearest my kitchen entrance. Therefore I now pull into the garage rather than historically backing in. And further my wife likes the bay nearest that entrance door so I'm a bay over. But the ChargePoint EVSE cable is plenty long enough to reach across. Likely most other EVSE's employ a similar "2-bay" cable.

 

[Bubbajet]

The charge port placement on the right rear of the car is just about the worst place VW could have chosen for the US market. Of course, we're not the entire world. /rant

Anyway. Sorry about the rant. The best thing you can do is practice parking your ID.4 with whatever you're driving now, and pretend you're going to plug in. You're doing the right thing by thinking about others getting in and out, unloading groceries, etc. I wound up backing my ID.4 in and putting the EVSE and outlet on the back wall right at the corner of the car, I might eventually move it to the side wall. In a perfect world you could pull straight in on the right side of the garage; this doesn't work for me due to my SO's backing skills. Not everyone is great at it. I've got to use the left side...which means backing in or draping the cord around the back of my car.

A few considerations:

• One thing that I didn't consider was that I'm really only plugging in at the end of the day, and unplugging when I go out at the beginning of the day. From a cord-replacement standpoint, it's unobtrusive.
• I'm using a Grizzl-E charger with the upgraded cord. The cord is surprisingly pliable and does a great job of laying down and not creating a trip hazard.
• A cheap hose hanger works great to store the excess cord.
• Don't forget that you'll have a hatchback if you don't now. You'll need a little vertical clearance. This can be adjusted, based on a quick measurement it looks like you'll need about 88-90" or so at a minimum.
• The hatch swings back from the car about 10" while it opens, too. Keep that in mind since you'll likely be standing there.
• If you're at all good at backing in, this car is great at it.
• The cord and charging door on the car both extend about 10" from the side of the car, and they're both fragile and/or not inexpensive if you bump them. This, in the end, is the primary reason I'm backing in.

 

[BradPat]

Hey Y'all!

I'm arranging to have a level 2 Charger installed in my garage soon. I'm wondering where people have decided to place their charger in the garage? To get into the garage, we have a door on the right hand side near the front (close to the garage door) when facing the garage. I wish VW had put the socket on the car up front. Where it is on the back of the car, it seems like the cord/door will constantly be in the way for either passengers or the driver of our second car. Right now I am thinking that the best place will be toward the back right corner of the garage so I can drag the cord closely along the passenger side of the car in order to impede the least on the rest of the garage space, but I would love to hear other people's thoughts on placement.

I installed a LV 2 229v 26amp charger ona a 30 amp breaker with a dryer plug. It charges plenty fast for me like 3 times faster than 110. Anyway you can install a dryer outlet just about anywhere. Much cheaper alternative. Just my 2 cents worth 🤗

 

[BradPat]

I installed a LV 2 229v 26amp charger ona a 30 amp breaker with a dryer plug. It charges plenty fast for me like 3 times faster than 110. Anyway you can install a dryer outlet just about anywhere. Much cheaper alternative. Just my 2 cents worth 🤗

Oops! That was 220v not 229v also I carry my charger with me and if your visiting someone that has a dryer in the garage, you can get a fast charge on the spot. 🤗🤗

 

[dfox]

My garage is rather narrow, and I back my car in as close to the side as I dare. My wife pulls her car in forward on the other side, so access to the driver side of both cars is maximized. My Grizzle-e is about halfway down on my side, but I put the connector holder near where the charge port is. I have a garden hose hanger mid-way between to hold the extra cable. I put the charger halfway down so I can unwind the cable and charge outside when I can't park in the garage because of a project I am working on.

 

[artgpo]

The basic simple answer is just make certain the unit you buy has a 24'-25' cable. And just be careful you don't trip over the cable.

 

[krusshall]

The basic simple answer is just make certain the unit you buy has a 24'-25' cable. And just be careful you don't trip over the cable.

Especially to futureproof for the next EV where the charging location may be in a different spot than on the ID.4.

 

[Timbobh]

The basic simple answer is just make certain the unit you buy has a 24'-25' cable. And just be careful you don't trip over the cable.

I purchased a chargepoint home flex. It has a 23' cable. After some thinking, we are going to put the EVSE in the middle back portion of the garage. This way the cable can reach either car. Fortunately, the ID.4 is relatively short, so if we back it in, it should be pretty easy to access the charge port from either bay. I am wondering if it makes sense to hook a system up in the garage rafters to essentially bring the cable up and over the cars and then back down to the charge port. It could potentially be on a pivot to access the entire garage. The cable would live in the rafters instead of being coiled up at the EVSE. I'm thinking some version of a system like this would eliminate any potential trip hazards.

 

[Skirmish]

One thing to consider is the cost of placing the outlet or hardwire point from the breaker panel. When you get into the higher amp service the wiring can get expensive fast. The electrician will usually want a higher gauge wire for longer distances to make up for loss in resistance. It will also matter if you are running conduit or running under the drywall but if you don’t mind the extra money it is worth it to put it where it is more convenient in the long run.

 

[Lxtruong]

One thing to consider is the cost of placing the outlet or hardwire point from the breaker panel. When you get into the higher amp service the wiring can get expensive fast. The electrician will usually want a higher gauge wire for longer distances to make up for loss in resistance. It will also matter if you are running conduit or running under the drywall but if you don’t mind the extra money it is worth it to put it where it is more convenient in the long run.

Can confirm this as I just paid some electricians $3k to wire two NEMA 14-15 outlets in a detached garage. 😭 😭 😭

 

[Timbobh]

Can confirm this as I just paid some electricians $3k to wire two NEMA 14-15 outlets in a detached garage. 😭 😭 😭

Yea I have a detached garage too. It's frustrating because the power to my house is fed overhead from a pole in my alley immediately adjacent to my garage. The electricians need to trench the wiring for the charger from the house back to the garage. I wish I could just have a second meter and breaker panel for my garage. It would be a much shorter run of wire and I could switch that meter to off-peak rates while keeping the house on a standard plan. I don't know the cost of installing a second meter and panel and I guess there are some hoops to jump through with the city, so it probably not much better. I just want to get off trickle charging 😋

 

[Huey52]

You could of course rather have the electrician install a new 240V sub-panel within/outside the garage and then the EVSE run on from there (no 2nd meter required). Would also facilitate future garage circuits. Of course some additional cost, but offset to some degree by potentially less trenching, etc. I think it would be good to discuss same with your electrician. He's likely well versed in your city's requirements.

...
I don't know the cost of installing a second meter and panel and I guess there are some hoops to jump through with the city, so it probably not much better. I just want to get off trickle charging 😋

 

[stealthg]

Especially to futureproof for the next EV where the charging location may be in a different spot than on the ID.4.

Exactly, my outlet being on the back was perfect for the A3 etron, since the port was behind the front rings. The Audi charger is now laying on the floor to reach the Q5e’s left rear charge port. The longer cable that you can order with the Grizzl-e is perfect and will also work for my ID.4