What home charger does the Volkswagen e-Golf need?
| Model years | Trims | Charger | Breaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | all trims | 32 A | 40 A |
The 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf needs a 32 A charger on a 40 A breaker. Its onboard charger accepts 7.2 kW, and a 32 A unit supplies all of it.
Why 32 amps and not more
The e-Golf has a modest battery and 125 miles of range, so it fills quickly on almost any charger. At 32 A it adds 25 miles of range per hour. A 24 A charger on a 30 A circuit adds 19. A charger above 32 A adds nothing, since the car stops at its own limit.
Charging time by model year
| Year | EPA range | Level 2, miles per hour | Level 2, empty to full | 120 V, miles per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 125 mi | 25 | 4.9 h | 5.1 |
Level 2 figures assume a charger that supplies the car's full rate. Where a year shows a range, it spans that year's trims.
Every 2019 e-Golf shares the 7.2 kW charger, and a full charge from empty takes about 4.9 hours. Most are now on the used market, where they make cheap, easy-to-charge commuters.
What it costs to charge at home
At the U.S. average residential rate of 18.19¢ per kWh, the 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf costs 5.2¢ a mile to charge at home. A full charge from empty comes to about $6, and 37 miles a day to about $58 a month. EPA measures energy use at the wall, so the energy lost while charging is already counted. Rates run from 12.36¢ in North Dakota to 46.28¢ in Hawaii, and the cost guide has every state.
What the install involves
This is a light install. A 32 A charger can plug into a NEMA 14-50 outlet on a 40 A breaker, or be hardwired. A 24 A charger on a NEMA 6-30 outlet and a 30 A breaker also works and still fills the battery overnight with room to spare.
- 32 A charger: 40 A breaker, NEMA 14-50 outlet on a 40 A breaker, or hardwired.
- Dryer outlet: a 4-prong NEMA 14-30 on a 30 A breaker can run a 24 A charger. That adds about 19 miles of range per hour to the 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf, or 125 in a 10-hour night. What to check first.
- Charge port: J1772. Every non-Tesla EV sold in North America through 2024 uses the J1772 connector for AC Level 2 charging.
Chargers that fit the Volkswagen e-Golf
Smallest adequate unit first. Every amp above what the car accepts is capacity it never uses.
No home unit in this list is built at exactly 32 A, so these are the smallest that cover it. The car draws only what it can take.
App scheduling and adjustable current from 16 A to 40 A.
Plugs into an existing 14-50 outlet, no hardwiring.
Rugged metal enclosure, built for outdoor use.
Worth having as well
Common questions
- Can a Volkswagen e-Golf use a NEMA 14-50 outlet?
- Yes. A 32 A plug-in charger on a 14-50 outlet with a 40 A breaker suits it well.
- How long does a Volkswagen e-Golf take to charge?
- About 4.9 hours from empty on a 32 A charger.
- Is a 120 V outlet enough for a Volkswagen e-Golf?
- For many owners, yes. It adds about 5.1 miles of range per hour, and the battery is small.
- Will a 48 A charger charge a Volkswagen e-Golf faster?
- No. The e-Golf draws 32 A at most.
Before you buy
Other models
Range and efficiency come from EPA data for the Volkswagen e-Golf, covering 1 EPA listing across 1 model year. Onboard charger ratings are from manufacturer specifications. Breakers follow NEC 625.41, which sizes a continuous load at 125%. Have a licensed electrician check your panel before buying.