Volkswagen e-Crafter EV charger: which one suits you best?
The Volkswagen e-Crafter charges at home single-phase, at up to 7.2 kW. Single-phase means the van draws current over one phase of your supply instead of three. A heavier three-phase charger will therefore not charge it any faster. A 7.4 kW charger is the smart pick. Do you run a different Volkswagen? Pick your model on our Volkswagen EV charger overview and see its charging data.
For the Volkswagen e-Crafter we recommend a charger from our 7.4 kW EV chargers.
Charging specifications of the Volkswagen e-Crafter
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Usable battery capacity | 36 kWh |
| Max. AC charging power (home) | 7.2 kW (single-phase) |
| Range (WLTP) | approx. 112 km |
| Charging time with a 7.4 kW EV charger | approx. 5 hours |
| Charging connector | Type 2 (Mennekes) |
| DC fast charging | approx. 40 kW |
Why a single-phase charger is enough for the e-Crafter
The e-Crafter can only charge over one phase. Connect it to an 11 kW charger and it delivers three-phase at 16 A. The van uses only one of those phases, so the charging power drops to 3.7 kW. A 7.4 kW charger, single-phase at 32 A, does deliver the full 7.2 kW. A 22 kW charger would also reach it, but it is oversized for this van.
Do you have a single-phase supply at home or at your depot? Then keep an eye on how much current the rest of the building still needs. A charger with dynamic load balancing keeps measuring what is available. It adjusts the charging power itself, so the load stays within what the circuit can carry. The e-Crafter has a Type 2 (Mennekes) connection. Charging with your own cable? Pick a Type 2 charging cable rated for 7.4 kW or more.
Which EV charger suits the Volkswagen e-Crafter?
For the e-Crafter we advise a 7.4 kW charger, which matches the van's single-phase 7.2 kW exactly. One thing to know at this power level: our 7.4 kW range has no charger with a built-in MID meter. That is a certified kWh meter inside the charger. It records your charging separately from the rest of your electricity use, and the certification makes the reading legally valid.
We do stock chargers with this meter at 11 kW and at 22 kW, and an 11 kW charger would halve this van's charging speed. So on a 7.4 kW charger you measure your charging through a separate meter in the fuse box instead.
Two other features do suit this van at 7.4 kW. A charger with an app lets you start a session and read your consumption from your phone. That helps when the van charges outside working hours. A solar EV charger times the charging to run on the electricity your own panels are producing.
A wall-mounted unit is the usual setup for charging at home or at the depot. Our home EV chargers gather the models built for that.
How long does the Volkswagen e-Crafter take to charge?
The sum is simple. Divide 36 kWh of usable battery by 7.2 kW of charging power and you get about 5 hours for a full charge on a 7.4 kW charger. On an 11 kW charger it takes longer. The van falls back to 3.7 kW, so you end up at roughly 9.5 hours. On the road there is DC fast charging up to around 40 kW. At home or at work, a 7.4 kW charger is the cheapest way to charge it.
Other Volkswagen models
Wallbox Discounter also has charging information for other electric Volkswagens, such as the van from the same family:
Frequently asked questions
Does the Volkswagen e-Crafter need a three-phase charger?
No. The e-Crafter charges over one phase at up to 7.2 kW. A 7.4 kW charger, single-phase at 32 A, delivers that in full. A three-phase 11 kW charger actually charges the van more slowly, because it uses only one of the three phases.
Why does a MID meter matter for the e-Crafter?
A MID meter records your charging separately from the rest of your electricity use. Because it is certified, that reading is legally valid. So you know what running the van costs you. In our 7.4 kW range there is no charger with the meter built in, so for the e-Crafter that means a separate meter in the fuse box.
Should I have the charger installed?
We always advise having the connection made by an accredited electrician. That is safer and it matters for your insurance. We install in the Netherlands, Flemish Belgium and Germany. In the Netherlands and Flemish Belgium you can order the installation together with the charger. In Germany it runs through a free quote. Outside those three countries we ship the charger but do not install it.