VW Golf GTE charging guide

 

The VW Golf GTE is one of the best-selling plug-in cars in the UK, with a mid-life refresh only adding to its appeal. Styling tweaks and upgraded equipment combine with a lower price to create a car that has all of the usual benefits of the excellent VW Golf, plus the extremely low running costs a PHEV can offer. Offered as a five-door hatchback, the VW Golf GTE is quoted as capable of covering 31 miles on a single charge, putting it towards the top of the PHEV-range league table.

* Combined range using both petrol and electric (from a single full charge)

How to charge a VW Golf GTE

The VW Golf GTE uses the Type 2 charging standard, which is used for all charging requirements. The Type 2 inlet is used when charging at home or at public slow and fast AC points. Like most PHEVs, the Golf GTE has no rapid charging capabilities. The VW Golf GTE’s Type 2 inlet is found behind the ‘VW’ badge on the centre of the car’s grille.

VW’s Golf GTE is able to be slow and fast charged from public points, depending on network and type of charge unit. In most cases, slow charging requires a 3-pin-to-Type 2 cable, and fast charging a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, both of which are usually supplied with the vehicle.

Type 2 – Slow & Fast

Charging on AC or DC requires the EV driver to plug the connectors into the correct inlet, after which the car then ‘talks’ to the charging unit to make sure there is a power supply, that there are no faults, and that it is safe to start charging. If charging at private home or workplace charge point, the vehicle then automatically starts charging.

On a public charger, an activation process is required to initiate charging. Depending on the network provider, this may require the use of an RFID card or smartphone app, often linked to an account which has been set up beforehand. Contactless pay-as-you-go units are also becoming more common on newer units. Once activated, the units will conduct further connection and account checks before starting to charge the vehicle.

How long does it take to charge a VW Golf GTE?

The following table shows approximate times to charge a VW Golf GTE. Times are for a 100% charge.

Note that the times shown are only a guide, as very rarely will an EV need to be fully charged from 0%. Other factors that might vary the charging time include ambient temperature, in-vehicle energy loads, any upper and lower charge restrictions to extend battery life and protect against potential damage, and charging rates slowing down as the maximum charge is reached.

Fast 22kW	Fast 7kW	Slow 3kW
2:15 hours 0-100%	2:15 hours 0-100%	3:45 hours 0-100%

The VW Golf GTE is fitted with a 3.6 kW on-board charger for AC charging. This means that even when connected to a fast charger with a rated output above 3.6 kW, the VW Golf GTE will only be able to charge at 3.6 kW.

Use Zap-Map’s Home Charging Calculator to estimate charging times for a VW Golf GTE. The level of battery charge, connector speed, and on-board charger options can be tailored to your requirements for more accurate results.

How much does it cost to charge a VW Golf GTE?

The table shown below shows estimates of the cost to charge the VW Golf GTE’s 8.7 kWh battery at home, on a domestic tariff. Cost estimates are dependent on the charge remaining, usable battery capacity, and age of battery pack. Cost per mile is calculated using an estimate of real-world range.

Type	Cost/kWh	Cost to charge	Cost per mile
Home Standard	14 p/kWh	£1.20	4.9 p/mile

Based on these figures, the VW Golf GTE’s fuel costs in electric mode are 5-6 p/mile based on real-world energy usage, the cost depending on the type of charging. In general, home charging provides the cheapest per mile cost and public rapid charging tends to be around double the cost. These fuel costs compare favourably with 12-15 p/mile for conventional petrol and diesel cars.

To find the cost and times to charge an EV on a public charge point, Zap-Map’s Public Charging Calculator calculates charging costs for any new or used plug-in vehicle. The results can be personalised for different electricity costs and the level of charge required.

Charging a VW Golf GTE at home

Charging at home is often the most convenient and cost effective way to recharge an EV. Government grants are available for the installation of home EV charge points, and a large number of companies offer a fully installed charge point for a fixed price.

Most home chargers are either rated at 3 kW or 7 kW. The higher powered wall-mounted units normally cost more than the slower 3 kW option, but halve the time required to fully charge an EV. Many plug-in car manufacturers have deals or partnerships with charge point suppliers, and in some cases provide a free home charge point as part of a new car purchase.

Charging a VW Golf GTE on public networks

The UK has a large number of public EV charging networks, with some offering national coverage and others only found in a specific region. Major charging networks include bp pulse, GeniePoint, GRIDSERVE, InstaVolt, Osprey, Pod Point and ubitricity.

Payment and access methods across networks vary, with some networks providing an RFID card and others a smartphone app to use their services. While most require an account to be set up before use, some rapid units with contactless PAYG card readers are starting to be installed.

Although many EV charge points are free to use, the majority of fast and rapid chargers require payment. Charging tariffs tend to comprise a flat connection fee, a cost per charging time (pence per hour) and/or a cost per energy consumed (pence per kWh). For more information about network tariffs, visit Zap-Map’s public charge point networks guides.