What EV Charger Do You Need for a 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback?
Forty-eight amps is the magic number for the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback. You need a Level 2 setup to hit the maximum onboard charging rate of 11.0 kW. The car pulls 48 amps directly, taking 7.8 hours to fill the 86.0 kWh battery from empty.
The numbers
| Maximum AC charging rate | 11.0 kW (48 A) |
|---|---|
| Charger size to buy | 48 A |
| Circuit breaker required | 60 A |
| Outlet / connection | hardwired (a 48 A EVSE must be hardwired -- no household receptacle is rated for it) |
| Charge port | J1772 |
| Full charge on Level 2 | about 7.8 hours |
| Range added per hour (Level 2) | about 31 miles |
| Full charge on a 120 V outlet | about 60 hours |
| Range added per hour (120 V) | about 4.1 miles |
| EPA rated range | 242 miles |
| Energy for a full charge | about 86.0 kWh at the wall |
Why 48 amps and not more
Your car accepts up to 48 amps of alternating current. Buying a larger charging unit makes no sense because the onboard charger cannot draw more than 48 amps anyway. Plugging into a smaller 32 amp or 40 amp supply slows down your replenishment rate. At the full 48 amp draw, you recover 31 miles of range for every hour plugged in. The EPA test routine yields 27 miles per hour over 9.0 hours because standard compliance testing does not always run at the absolute peak output of the vehicle.
What the install involves
You must hardwire a 48 amp charger because no standard household receptacle handles that load safely. Have a licensed electrician pull a dedicated circuit and land it on a 60 amp breaker. The technician must inspect your panel to verify spare capacity before starting the wire run. Once the feed is live, mount the unit directly to the wall and wire it straight into the chassis.
Chargers that match this car
Energy monitoring built in. Hardwire it for the full 48 A.
Compact unit, good for tight garages.
Adjustable from 16 A to 50 A in the app, which helps if your panel is tight.
Worth having as well
Common questions
- Can I use a regular wall outlet for Level 2 charging?
- No. Standard wall outlets only supply 120 volts at 15 or 20 amps, which gives you 4.1 miles of range per hour and takes 60 hours for a full charge. You need a dedicated Level 2 setup.
- Why does the EPA charge time differ from the maximum rate?
- The EPA test does not always run at the car's peak AC rate. That is why the agency lists 9.0 hours instead of the optimal 7.8 hours.
- What connector does this Audi use?
- The vehicle uses a J1772 connector for all standard AC Level 2 equipment. Every non-Tesla EV sold in North America through 2024 uses this exact standard.
- Can I plug into a Tesla Destination Charger?
- Yes, if you use a Tesla to J1772 adapter rated for high amperage. The adapter lets your Audi tap into Tesla hardware deployed at hotels and businesses.
Other vehicles
Charging times derived from EPA data for the 2023 Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback. Electrical requirements follow NEC 625.41, which sizes a circuit at 125% of a continuous load. Always have a licensed electrician verify your panel.