[Neil]

I too would prefer the charging port to be on the driver's side or up front. However, in the case of the VW, most German ICE cars have the filler access on the right side of the car. That's because the mufflers on most of those cars are on the left side, and for safety, they purposely placed the filler in a location where spilled fuel would not likely come in contact with a hot exhaust system. The location of the EVSE port may be a carry-over of that logic. Anyway, that's my "seat of the pants" guess. 🤥 YMMV.

Actually Germans fuel on the passenger side because they historically used roadside fuel pumps they would drive alongside. It's NOT because their exhaust is on the driver's side. The fuel filler position came first, and the opposite exhaust followed.

 

[Huey52]

I haven't read the other responses but quite simply the same passenger-aft as VWG ICE vehicles.

At a gas pump the Germans like having it on that side, as opposed to Americans tuther.

Not so different from lug bolts vs. lug nuts.

... for me... It's not the easily scratchable glossy plastics or touch senstive controls or lack of some lighted controls or lack of dedicated rear window buttons or lack of one pedal driving or lack of heat pump in US version or not so fast charging but... it's the damn charging port location...

Why on earth would they pick rear right location? IMO it's one of the worst locations for EV which meant to spend most of the time charging at home. I would have been fine with front like in Leaf or front left side like in I had in Volt/Bolt or even rear left would have been ok like in Tesla. Of course VW isn't the only one who is guilty of that, Hyundai/Kia as well as Toyota also doing the same thing, there are some China made EVs using right front location.

There are a few options how to solve it for manufacturers. Either 1) standardize location of the port 2) add two locations on both sides at least

 

[ericy]

I installed my EVSE when I had the Kona, so it was perfect if the charge port was in the nose of the car.

For the ID.4, the cord reaches - just barely. If I were doing it over again, I am not sure what I would do. Put the Juicebox on the ceiling??

 

[Atlant]

If the location of the charging port is such a big deal for you, why did you purchase the ID4 in the first place without doing your homework first?

This isn't really a productive answer to a person who has a legitimate concern.

 

[928GTS]

This isn't really a productive answer to a person who has a legitimate concern.

Put it in context with the rest of my reply.

 

[MR. Ed of course]

Actually Germans fuel on the passenger side because they historically used roadside fuel pumps they would drive alongside. It's NOT because their exhaust is on the driver's side. The fuel filler position came first, and the opposite exhaust followed.

That makes good sense. Thankyou for the historical reasoning for the filler location on most (if not all) German ICEVs. Begs the question if their EVs are still going to "fill up" from roadside fast chargers?

 

[Enzeder]

Didn't fat e-tron have a port on both front flanks? etron is also a VAG product, but no rear charge port. That changed for the Q4.
At least the Audi dealer chargers can be in the same spot - just a matter of pulling forwards for etron and backwards for Q4.

The cheapest EV's have their charge port essentially forward of the windshield. But they're also FWD so the equipment is all up front. Meanwhile, all ID.4's have a rear motor, but only some have a front motor. I would expect the motor and charger to be near each other. It's a pity, without a frunk there's less worry about packaging, and it would have helped weight distribution - especially for the RWD models. Cest la vie.

Coming from a Bolt, I would have preferred the etron location (drivers front fender). Other people drive my car and it isn't plugged in every time, I haven't noticed an obvious indicator that the car is attached, so the port on the Bolt was nice and obvious. At least you can't drive off accidentally. And it's only been a few times where I've jumped in to go and had to hop out to disconnect.

But as to the original point, this is minutes of my life each week. I have to live with the interior every minute I'm in the car (and to a lesser extent, live with the controls) :-(.

 

[Enzeder]

That makes good sense. Thankyou for the historical reasoning for the filler location on most (if not all) German ICEVs. Begs the question if their EVs are still going to "fill up" from roadside fast chargers?

I remember reading years ago about chargers in city locations beside parallel parking, so curb side would have been useful.

But it's pretty uncommon. And I really hope wireless charging eventually fulfills that need.

 

[rman]

I just use a 25’ cable that plugs in at the back of my garage… even pulling in head first it easily reaches the charge port and lays on the ground between my two cars.

 

[Atlant]

I remember reading years ago about chargers in city locations beside parallel parking, so curb side would have been useful.
View attachment 17622

But it's pretty uncommon. And I really hope wireless charging eventually fulfills that need.

That J1772 connector and the charger inlet port that it's attached to would last about 10 minutes on a busy American street. I know: I've my driver's side mirror smashed off.

 

[Dougie01]

I don't care where the charging port is, I just want it to be in the same place on all the cars I might buy, so I can organize my garage right.

 

[Atlant]

I don't care where the charging port is, I just want it to be in the same place on all the cars I might buy, so I can organize my garage right.

I understand you sentiment but if you park two EVs in the garage simultaneously, that may not be the best arrangement. See my comment above about how the ID.4 charge port location works synergistically with my Volt's different charge port location.

 

[IslandLarry]

The biggest downside of the ID.4? Not even close. To me the biggest downside is the lack of timely communication from VW. After 18 months of ownership, we finally received an email about our OTA updates. I still haven't heard from my dealer about bringing it in.
I knew where the chargeport was when I purchased the car and installed my L2 accordingly.

To briefly change the subject @Spin.
Did you order your L2 charger from PSEG? IF so how long did it take them to ship it?
I ordered a week ago and it still says order processing.
I ordered the JuiceBox40 by the way.

 

[Nai3t]

I'm puzzled by the "I have to back in" comments.

I get that backing in limits access to the tailgate in many scenarios. Is that the main complaint?

Because I can think of three reasons why backing in is preferred.

I can't imagine there is anything universal about charging port placement. If it were located anywhere else, I suspect just as many owners would be unhappy with it and the rest of us indifferent.

I've gotta say, right rear works for me x2 (both ID.4 and i3) most of the time.

 

[Atlant]

I'm puzzled by the "I have to back in" comments.

Lots of people don't like to back in to parking stalls.

It doesn't bother me but I'll bet my wife wouldn't like it.

 

[WhoaItsAFactorial]

Backing into a parking spot > Backing into cross traffic

 

[IslandLarry]

Lots of people don't like to back in to parking stalls.

It doesn't bother me but I'll bet my wife wouldn't like it.

I understand that your wife wouldn't like it, neither would mine.
Then again in 32 years of marriage my wife has never pumped her own gas and I don't expect her to EVER charge the ID.4.

 

[Dougie01]

My plan is to hang the charging cable from the ceiling so it dangles down to where the port is.

 

[MR. Ed of course]

Backing in will work for me so long as I don't need to open the rear hatch. Otherwise, the EVSE cord (more like a cable) is 25' long and will reach the farthest the EVSE port can be while in the garage. YMMV.

 

[rman]

I have a 100' driveway with no place to turn around and its up hill so I would need to turn in the street and then back in, uphill to my garage so its not ideal. It is much easier to pull in head first then back down the driveway, downhill but like I said, the 25' cord solves the issue for us.