Volkswagen ID 4: energy use, battery size and what it costs to charge

EPA figures for 2024, 2025, 2026 Volkswagen ID 4 (4 configurations), plus the cost to charge at home in every U.S. state at May 2026 electricity prices.

The Volkswagen ID 4 uses 29.83 kWh per 100 miles. Across the 223 electric cars on sale that figure runs from 23.1 to 66.1, which puts this one among the more efficient.

How much does it cost to charge a Volkswagen ID 4?

At the U.S. average residential price of 19.42¢ per kWh, a Volkswagen ID 4 costs about $5.79 per 100 miles, $15.17 for a full charge, and $695 a year at 12,000 miles. The same car costs $469 a year in Nevada and $1,887 in Hawaii — a 4.0× difference driven entirely by where you plug in.

Volkswagen ID 4 vs. a petrol car

A typical new gasoline small SUV returns 27.5 MPG. At $4.32 a gallon — the U.S. average for the week of 2026-09-14, up 14.3% on the year — that is $15.71 per 100 miles against $5.79 for the Volkswagen ID 4 on average-priced electricity. Over 12,000 miles the fuel difference is $1,189 a year in favour of the electric car.

Cost to charge a Volkswagen ID 4 in every state

Every Volkswagen ID 4 configuration compared

Questions people ask about the Volkswagen ID 4

How many kWh per 100 miles does a Volkswagen ID 4 use?

The Volkswagen ID 4 uses 29.83 kWh per 100 miles on the EPA combined cycle, which works out to 3.35 miles per kWh. Across all 4 EPA-rated configurations it ranges from 29.83 to 33.04 kWh per 100 miles.

How big is the Volkswagen ID 4 battery?

Its usable battery capacity works out to roughly 78.1 kWh. EPA does not publish battery size directly, so this is calculated from EPA range (291 miles) and rated energy use, corrected for charging losses — expect a few kWh of error against the manufacturer figure.

How much does it cost to charge a Volkswagen ID 4 at home?

About $15.17 for a full charge at the U.S. average residential electricity price of 19.42¢ per kWh, or $5.79 per 100 miles. Over a year at 12,000 miles that is $695. In Nevada the same driving costs $469; in Hawaii it costs $1,887.

How long does a Volkswagen ID 4 take to charge on a 240V charger?

EPA rates it at about 8 hours for a full charge on a 240-volt (Level 2) charger. A standard 120-volt household outlet takes roughly five to six times longer; DC fast charging is far quicker but costs considerably more per kWh than charging at home.

Is a Volkswagen ID 4 cheaper to run than a gasoline car?

On fuel alone, yes. A Volkswagen ID 4 costs about $5.79 per 100 miles in electricity. A typical new gasoline small SUV manages 27.5 MPG, which at $4.32 a gallon costs $15.71 per 100 miles — $9.91 more. Over 12,000 miles the difference is $1,189 a year in the EV's favour. This compares fuel only — not insurance, depreciation, maintenance or your state's EV registration fee.

Cars to compare it with

Almost identical energy use

These use within a fraction of a kWh per 100 miles of the Volkswagen ID 4, so running cost is effectively a wash between them — the decision comes down to everything else.

Other electric small SUVs

• Kia Niro Electric — 29.83 kWh/100mi
• Genesis GV60 — 30.09 kWh/100mi
• Genesis GV60 Standard — 30.09 kWh/100mi
• Toyota bZ4X Limited — 30.09 kWh/100mi
• Hyundai Ioniq 5 — 29.31 kWh/100mi
• Volvo EX30 — 29.06 kWh/100mi
• Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended — 30.64 kWh/100mi
• Lexus RZ 450e — 30.64 kWh/100mi
• Kia EV3 — 28.81 kWh/100mi
• Kia EV6 — 28.81 kWh/100mi

Other Volkswagen electric cars

• ID 4 Pro — 29.83 kWh/100mi
• ID 4 Pro S — 29.83 kWh/100mi
• ID 4 S — 31.5 kWh/100mi
• ID Buzz — 40.61 kWh/100mi
• ID Buzz 4motion — 42.13 kWh/100mi

Where these numbers come from

Energy use per 100 miles is 3,370.5 ÷ MPGe, because EPA defines MPGe against 33.705 kWh per gasoline gallon equivalent. EPA meters that energy at the wall, so charging losses are already included.

Usable battery size is EPA range × kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100 × 0.90. The 0.90 corrects for the fact that EPA measures energy at the wall but measures range from the pack; without it the estimate runs about 10% high. It is an estimate, not a manufacturer specification — expect a few kWh of error either way.

Cost assumes home charging at the state's average residential electricity price (EIA, May 2026) and 12,000 miles a year. Public DC fast charging costs considerably more; time-of-use plans can cost less.

The petrol comparison uses the median combined MPG of current regular-gasoline, non-hybrid cars in this car's own EPA vehicle class — not an all-car average — priced at the U.S. average retail price from the EIA weekly series. It counts fuel only.