The etiquette of waiting for an EV charger: month 3 living with a VW ID. 5

Updated: 03 May 2024

► Volkswagen ID. 5 long-term test
► We live with VW’s family EV
► Read month 1 here

A 755-mile return trip to Bangor showed up everything good and bad about the Volkswagen ID. 5 specifically, and electric cars generally. At Keele services on the M6, after reversing into the last free charging bay, I hooked up to the Gridserve unit. 

Instantly, the irate driver of a BMW i4 charging from the same unit began to reprimand me. When two cars share a charging unit, the juice is halved between them. So he wanted us to wait 15 minutes without charging until he was fully charged at the unit’s maximum wattage. 

Calmly explaining that we also needed to recharge asap antagonised him further. He hurled some abuse before driving off in a huff.

We live and learn.

Read month 1

Read month 2

Author Ben Whitworth and his VW ID. 5

Logbook: VW ID. 5 Pro Performance Tech

Price: £55,580 (£58,330 as tested) 
Performance: 77kWh battery, e-motor, 201bhp, 8.4sec 0-62mph, 99mph 
Efficiency: 3.9 miles per kWh (official) 3.3 (tested), 0g/km CO2 
Range: 323 miles (official), 254 (tested) 
Energy cost: 11.0p per mile 
Miles this month: 1553 
Total: 3020

By Ben Whitworth

Contributing editor, sartorial over-achiever, younger than he looks

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