[MCheiron]

Hi all,

I was at the local VW dealer a d chatted about my ID.4 reservation. During the conversation, the charging network came up and I was told that all dealers will get chargers but it was not clear how many, what levels or when. Also, apparently there are different tiers of EV VW dealers that might be getting different EV equipment. Besides all the unknowns, this might reduce range anxiety if there are level 2 chargers available to customers at all dealers. Have you received similar information? What are your thoughts?

 

[ixlr08]

I have been told all dealers who are selling ID.4's will be required to have a charger. I know one dealer who has a Chargepoint charger, from when they were selling the e-Golf, was asked to install a different charger and they refused since they already had a charger. That dealer is NOT on the list of preferred ID.4 dealers. I don't know what kind of charger they were asked to install.

 

[TT97]

Level 2 chargers at dealerships isn't really going to reduce range anxiety. Level 2 is useless for long range trips (except for at overnight locations) and the scenario where you will get range anxiety on around town trips (with a VW dealer conveniently located) is close to zero.

I also can't see a dealer already having a Chargepoint charging station and not becoming a preferred dealer by swapping L2 charging stations. My guess for that scenario is that VW is looking for the dealer to install a L3 station which would require more infrastructure upgrades (or other non-charging related reasons they are not a preferred dealer).

 

[MCheiron]

I also just checked the VW dealership network. While it is dense in urban and suburban areas, there are very few elsewhere. I cross my fingers for L3 chargers but am afraid that the costs are just too high for all of them installing a couple of those.

 

[ixlr08]

My dealer doesn't have a charger at the moment, I asked him what they were installing. He said it would be a L2 charger and he had no idea what brand it was as VW was providing the charger, they had to install it.
He also said that his dealership didn't carry any eGolfs as there was no interest in them, that is why they didn't have a charger. He said there has been lots of interest in the ID.4.

 

[MCheiron]

My dealer said that they have around 15 preorders but that they don’t think all will go through. It is a smaller dealer, so 15 is quite good. Also, he mentioned that they think they might get a couple for their showroom in the first quarter. Fingers crossed. He also mentioned a third quarter delivery for the AWD, which is something we knew.

 

[Huey52]

My dealer is relatively small but they already have an outdoors ChargePoint L2 parking area.

 

[super]

Spoke with my Denver dealer (Emich) last night and they will have two L3 Electrify America chargers in the near future.

 

[surprisingrice]

Spoke with my Denver dealer (Emich) last night and they will have two L3 Electrify America chargers in the near future.

I could see VW requiring dealers to install an L2 at dealer-expense.

I could maybe see Electrify America putting DCFCs at VW dealers (like Nissan did): VW is compelled to fund EA to a specific amount of dollars/year, so if EA could spend some of that locating DCFC at VW dealers, then VW's money wouldn't be "leaving the family." But to satisfy the dieselgate settlement, I think the chargers would need to be accessible 24/7 to all drivers. I'm guessing that dealers who secure their parking lots an night would balk at this. Maybe this dealer-L3 approach could work where the dealer lot has enough space and public access.

If anybody has an update on this, please let us know!

 

[ixlr08]

My dealer told me that VW made them install a L2 charger if they wanted to carry the ID.4. When I went for my test drive he informed that yes they had installed a L2 charger... inside the shop, not for public use!!!

 

[surprisingrice]

I noticed an ID.4 launch document for VW dealers at EA's site:

https://www.electrifyamerica.com/assets/pdf/ElectrifyAmerica_EVChargingHardware_VW_2020_F1.494252e5.pdf

It shows three options for dealers:

• dual L2, for $1100
• 25kw DCFC + dual L2 for $8460
• dual 25kw DCFC + dual L2 for $15,960

That's actually a decent price on a 25kw DCFC. Compare with $12k for a Delta Wallbox (CCS+Chademo):
Delta Wallbox 25kW DCFC 25kW - Dual Port . I believe the Bosch units installed at Chevy dealers cost about $10k. If a dealer said they were "putting in two L3 chargers," then they could be talking about the $15,960 option.

 

[PoRscheTek]

Porsche is requiring all dealers to install 350 kw chargers. Supply is very low and as such has allowed 50kw charges to be installed as a stop gap. These are for public use. I forget what brand ours is but the ones we have to install when available are $150k each. I’d imagine Audi will do something similar in their dealer network too. So keep that in mind if you’re in an area near those dealers too.

 

[nigela]

My dealer told me that VW made them install a L2 charger if they wanted to carry the ID.4. When I went for my test drive he informed that yes they had installed a L2 charger... inside the shop, not for public use!!!

What would you do with a L2 charger at a dealer? You’d have to park overnight to uptake much of a charge.

The L2 at the dealer is for them to charge their demo cars and customer cars in the shop.

 

[egsell]

Not if you are only doing a small percentage of your charge. Daily around the city, getting service, yelling at dealer, I don’t know I could come up with more.

 

[Andy at Ross-Tech.com]

Not if you are only doing a small percentage of your charge. Daily around the city, getting service, yelling at dealer, I don’t know I could come up with more.

Free coffee? ☕

 

[TPG]

My dealer in the SF Bay Area has two 50 kW DCFC chargers and 8 or 9 L2 EVSE available for public use. I can see that there are more L2s behind a lockable gate. This group also sells Chevys and some other cars besides VWs.

 

[MCheiron]

Porsche is requiring all dealers to install 350 kw chargers. Supply is very low and as such has allowed 50kw charges to be installed as a stop gap. These are for public use. I forget what brand ours is but the ones we have to install when available are $150k each. I’d imagine Audi will do something similar in their dealer network too. So keep that in mind if you’re in an area near those dealers too.

Are these supposed to be for general public or locked to Porsche owners?

 

[femich]

Spoke with my Denver dealer (Emich) last night and they will have two L3 Electrify America chargers in the near future.

Emich VW will have two 65kW chargers that pair to 125kW if there is only one car charging. They are ChargePoint charges and there is a sharing agreement between ChargePoint and Electrify America, but we are waiting to see how they get incorporated.

 

[ExCivilian]

What would you do with a L2 charger at a dealer? You’d have to park overnight to uptake much of a charge.

The L2 at the dealer is for them to charge their demo cars and customer cars in the shop.

I see you haven't picked up your FE, yet.

Well, from 9am when we test drove ours to 3pm when we finally sat down with finance ours charged enough to get us from SD to LA.

I'm not advocating for people spending 7-8 hours at the dealership...just preparing you for the inevitable trifecta of poor customer service, ignorance, and snake oil nonsense

 

[theboomr]

Emich VW will have two 65kW chargers that pair to 125kW if there is only one car charging. They are ChargePoint charges and there is a sharing agreement between ChargePoint and Electrify America, but we are waiting to see how they get incorporated.

femich, as in the actual Fred Emich? If so it's a pleasure to see you here on this forum, I'm very much looking forward to picking up my reservation at Emich VW!