10 Things to Love About the Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen ID.4 – MEB Vehicle Architecture

Modular Electric Drive Matrix or MEB is the basis for a completely new family of EVs within the VW Group, including the ID.4. With its modular design, this architecture supports rear-wheel drive (as standard with rear motor) and an all-wheel drive (optional with front and rear motors) setup. Easily customizable architecture houses battery modules in the floor giving an amazing opportunity to increase or decrease battery capacity just by adding or removing modules from a dedicated battery module tray.

This advanced concept allows for a simple reconfiguration of the battery housing, wheelbase, and track width making the MEB a perfect solution for numerous different vehicle types. In the case of the ID.4, which is a fully electric SUV, you get a five-link rear suspension, drum brakes at the back, McPhearson front axle, exceptionally low center of gravity, and 50/50 weight distribution.

The Volkswagen ID.4 Is One Tough EV SUV

Don’t think for a second that Volkswagen forgot to make a really impressive car while in pursuit of electromobility perfection! The ID.4 is tough. Only a few months ago, Volkswagen ID.4 GTX has set a Guinness World Record for the highest altitude achieved in an all-electric vehicle. Reiner Zietlow, a fellow well known for its record attempts with VW EVs, climbed the ID.4 GTX on the volcano Cerro Uturuncu in Bolivia to an elevation of 5,816 meters (19,081 feet), beating the previous record of 5,771 meters (18,933 feet).

If we go back to 2021, the same guy managed to set its first Guinness World Record with the ID.4 “for the longest journey by an electric vehicle (EV) in a single country,crossing 35,840.67 miles between July 13, 2021, and to October 18, 2021.”

Sponsored by Infineon, a semiconductor producer that supplies more than 50 components for the ID.4, this Guinness World Record demonstrated the capabilities of the charging network in the US, as well as the driving possibilities of EVs such as the ID.4.

Volkswagen ID.4 Offers Multiple Battery Options

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 is available with two different battery options – one with a capacity of 62 kWh and the other rated at 82 kWh. Interestingly enough, for the US, the ID.4 gets the batteries from SK Innovation, a South Korean company that built a factory in Georgia. The European-built model still receives LG Chem batteries produced by the LG Chem factory in Poland.

Nevertheless, the entry-level ID.4 in the US, now called the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Standard, comes with an RWD and 201 hp electric motor. It can cover 208 miles on one charge. On the other hand, the top-notch version called the ID.4 AWD Pro, with 82 kWh battery, AWD, and 295 hp, covers 275 miles on one charge. All available versions (five different trims) support a 170 kW DC charging station.

Volkswagen ID.4 Eco-Friendly Interior

While spacious and highly customizable, the VW ID.4 interior has several eco-friendly secrets. First of all, depending on the trim level you select, the ID.4 can get fantastic seats covered with a combination of leatherette and ArtVelours. The ArtVelours material is specifically interesting as it is a material partially made using fishnets recovered from the sea. Also, Volkswagen tried to make the interior as streamlined and as clutter-free as possible. With somewhat thin plastic on the doors and smart solutions for the trays and other places where you can leave your stuff, it is safe to say that ID.4 interior is certainly futuristic and eco-friendly, if not overly luxurious.

Volkswagen ID.4 Practicality

The ID.4 is an SUV. Although a tad shorter compared with Tiguan, its smart MEB architecture gives incredible opportunities for designers and engineers. That is why the ID.4 offers a tad more headroom and front legroom compared with the Tiguan.

On the other hand, the cargo capacity at 30.3 cubic feet is not as big as that in Tiguan, but the difference is almost negligible. What excites the most is the roominess around the front seats and the flat floor at the back. You can find several modular cup holders and storage spaces inside as well.

Volkswagen On-board Tech

As far as its sustainable electromobility proves goes, it is hard to bear the Volkswagen ID.4. However, in an ironic twist, the onboard tech in this SUV isn’t anything special. Mostly transferred from other Volkswagen Group vehicles, the tech includes intelligent ID. Light, App-Connect for Apple and Android, SiriusXM, active Car-Net, USB-C ports, and wireless phone charging. Good enough, I would say, but it seems that the standard 10-inch infotainment and the optional 12-inch touchscreen display interface isn’t up to par with the futurism and the expectations of today. Nevertheless, an over-the-air update could make it all right.

Free Public DC Fast Charging For the ID.4 in the U.S.

Electrify America, VW’s EV charging subsidiary with up to 800 charging stations across the US, offers up to three years of unlimited charging at DC fast chargers. You can locate any of them here. On the other hand, Volkswagen partnered with BP to install 8,000 Flexpole 150 kW fast-charging units across Europe by 2024. BP plans to install charging stations at its network of fuel stations.

VW ID.4 Could be a Perfect Solution for Electromobility Fleets

Back in 2021, British taxi firm, Addison Lee, announced its transition to EVs. The firm made an agreement with Volkswagen to electrify its entire fleet of taxis by 2023 with ID.4s. That is more than 4,000 vehicles that operate in the London area in Great Britain mind you. The transition is ongoing, but Addison Lee isn’t the only company that chose the ID4 as its go-to solution for electromobility transformation. We can see a similar example in Hamburg as well, where, with the Future Taxi project, the Ministry for transport and mobility revolution (BVM) made ID.4 taxis a part of the mobility revolution. Following these examples, even eastern European countries follow the suit. For example, just the other day, Porsche Kosova delivered a full EV Taxi Fleet in Prishtina.

As a reasonably priced EV with Volkswagen build-quality and SUV architecture, the ID.4 may prove to be a fits-it-all type of vehicle for fleets.

NYC council made a rather striking case for full EV fleets. As Intellias reports, “NYC authorities have used analytics to compare how different assets in their fleet perform. They found that the average electric car maintenance bill was $386 per year vs $1,600 spent on a gas-powered car.” That is only for maintenance, mind you.

Volkswagen ID.4 – Backbone of Sustainable, Emission-free Mobility with Continental

Continental, one of the largest automotive suppliers in the world (not only tires), worked closely with Volkswagen on the development of the ID.4. Apart from supplying Volkswagen with Drive Control Unit, drum brakes, sensors, control units, central display and other, Continental worked closely with Volkswagen on the development of the sustainability roadmap. “To achieve the Paris climate goals, two things are necessary: a complete shift to emission-free mobility and a fully carbon-neutral business,” explained Dr. Steffen Schwartz-Höfler, head of Sustainability at Continental.

Carbon-neutral business includes creating a production process that minimizes greenhouse gas emissions and neutralizes millions of tons of CO2 emissions. Apart from adjusting its production processes, altering logistics, and fine-tuning its power consumption, Continental aims to neutralize greenhouse emissions also by reforestation. This is one more example of how ID.4 shapes the Volkswagen electric future and the future of all involved in the development of new electric vehicles.

Eco-Friendly ID.4 Production Process in Zwickau

To meet eco-friendly goals and become a climate-neutral company, Volkswagen adjusted its production process in numerous factories. The one in Zwickau, where the ID.3 and ID.4 roll of the assembly line, uses electricity produced in hydroelectric power plants, wind farms, and solar parks. Furthermore, a site-on power-plant, powered by natural gas is one more climate-friendly solution employed to tackle global warming.

Interestingly enough, electric vehicle production still requires more energy compared with the production of ICE vehicles. It must be said, though, that scientific studies show that EVs have the best climate footprint of all drive types. One of the researchers, Christian Bauer, from the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) says, “although the production of e-cars still requires more energy, that balances out after a few tens of thousands of kilometers, as long as clean electricity is used for charging,”.

To further lower the greenhouse effect during the production of the ID.4, Volkswagen transports batteries by rail and by e-trucks. Also, you can recognize Volkswagen Group’s dedication to sustainability with the use of fuel made from vegetable residues for parts of the EV car shipments on the sea routes.

FAQs:

Is the ID.4 fully electric?

Yes, Volkswagen ID.4 is fully electric!

What is the ID.4 range?

Volkswagen ID.4 range is 208 miles for a car with a 62 kWh battery and 275 miles for an ID.4 with an 82 kWh battery.

How much does a Volkswagen ID.4 electric cost?

Entry-level 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Standard will set you back $37,495 MSRP.

How long does it take to charge a Volkswagen ID.4?

According to vistavw, when equipped with a level 1 120-volt outlet, it takes approximately 50 hours of charging time to go from 0 to 100% charge. A level 2 240-volt outlet takes an estimated 7.5 hours while the DC fast-charging battery charges from 0 to 80% in just 38 minutes.