VW e-Transporter: Battery gets more net released
VW is slightly increasing the usable energy content of the battery in the e-Transporter and raising the average net charging power.
The traction battery will not be changed. VW, like Ford before it, is releasing a higher net energy content and increasing the average charging power.
(Image: VW)
The VW e-Transporter, developed and built in collaboration with Ford, will be slightly improved around the battery. It remains at 82 kWh large and 125 kW maximum DC charging power. However, following criticism, the usable energy content will be increased from 63.8 to 70.9 kWh. At the same time, VW has raised the charging curve. Despite identical peak charging power and increased energy content, the promised charging time between 10 and 80 percent is reduced.
VW was likely able to take this step of making more net from the large because the previous gap between these values was chosen unusually large. My colleague Clemens Gleich, who drove the e-Transporter in the fall of 2025 for a test, speculated in the podcast “Die Hupe” that this design could possibly be related to the Euro 7 emissions standard. This standard mandates a minimum durability for the traction battery. Seven kilowatt-hours more allow up to 380 km in WLTP, VW writes.
Charging time to decrease
There is some confusion about the time stated for charging from 10 to 80 percent. For his test, Clemens found different factory specifications: 39 and 29 minutes. The latter was close to what he determined in the test. VW writes in the current manual: “The traction battery can now be charged from 10 to 80 percent in around 30 minutes. That's about ten minutes less than before.” An inquiry with VW revealed: The factory specification was 39 minutes. This slightly increases the average net charging power promised by the factory:
| new | previously | |
| Net energy content | 70.9 kWh | 63.9 kWh |
| 70 percent (10 to 80 percent SoC) | 49.6 kWh | 44.7 kWh |
| Charging time 10 to 80 percent SoC | 30 min | 39 min |
| Average charging power | 99.2 kW | 68.8 kW |
It should be noted that charging losses are still to be added. The peak charging powers remain identical. 125 kW are possible with direct current, 11 kW with alternating current. What VW does not have in its program, at least for now, is an optional version of the traction battery with higher energy content. It will likely only be a matter of time before the responsible parties can no longer avoid meeting this demand from many customers.
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New to the Transporter is the option of all-wheel drive. For this, an additional electric motor is installed on the front axle. The system output does not increase; it remains at 100, 160, and 210 kW. The currently least expensive e-Transporter costs 62,760 Euros.
(mfz)