Volkswagen e-up! (2014-2019) range, battery & charging
An 83-mile range restricts the Volkswagen e-up! to short journeys, but a good rapid charge time helps
| Range | Slow charge | Wallbox charge | Rapid charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 83 miles (NEDC) | 12 hours (2.3kW) | 8 hours (3.7kW) | 30 minutes (50kW, 0-80%) |
When the Volkswagen e-up! launched in late 2013, it was one of the first small electric cars on the market. However, as technology has progressed, the little city car has been surpassed by more capable and better-value alternatives.
Nowadays, cars like the larger Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Kona Electric offer a usable range well in excess of that delivered by the e-up!, relegating the little Volkswagen down the rankings. However, if you want a small and easy-to-park city car with plenty of zip, the e-up! remains a solid choice.
Volkswagen e-up! range
A short 83-mile range ensures the Volkswagen e-up! is a car for short journeys and city driving. In reality, that range is likely to be far shorter: 60-70 miles is feasible depending on your driving style. While it may not sound like much, a Smart ForFour EQ will do a similar distance before needing a charge.
Charge time
Volkswagen supplies three charge times for the e-up!. Home charging is easy on a household three-pin plug; the car will take around nine hours to charge from empty, while a domestic wallbox can reduce this to six hours. Fast charge points with a 40kW DC supply can top the batteries up to 80% in just 30 minutes; around 10 minutes faster than a Smart ForFour EQ.
Battery warranty
The Volkswagen e-up!’s 18.7kWh lithium-ion battery is covered for eight years or 99,360 miles (160,000km). Volkswagen stipulates that the “gradual reduction in high-voltage battery capacity over time is integral to the nature of the component”, however.
