Electric Volkswagen ID.3 debuts in Ireland - car and motoring news by CompleteCar.ie

Deposit-holders get their first experience of the Volkswagen ID.3.

To date, more than 400 people in Ireland have placed a €1,000 pre-booking deposit for the Volkswagen ID.3. The new electric car is the start of a wave of new battery-powered vehicles to come from Volkswagen as it seeks to pivot to an emission-free future. Currently, the Volkswagen Group accounts for 1 per cent of total global CO₂ emissions, but it hopes to become a carbon-neutral company by 2050 at the latest.

The Volkswagen ID.3 1st

Marking the introduction of the Volkswagen ID.3, the company is launching it with a special 1st edition, and it is this model that those who have pre-booked will get. Those customers were able to sit in and sample an ID.3 1st during a special event in Dublin this week. They also got an update on the timeline and status of their orders. Presently, Volkswagen intends to begin the first customer deliveries of the ID.3 in the summer of 2020. In February 2020, the exact pricing and specifications will be confirmed. Buyers will then be asked to confirm their order and car specification during an ordering window between March and April. Up until this order is placed, all pre-bookers can opt to have their €1,000 refunded if they change their mind.

Three different versions

All of the Volkswagen ID.3 1st models will come with the mid-level 58kWh battery and a 204hp electric motor that powers the rear wheels. All will be capable of 100kW fast charging. Three equipment grades will be available all carrying the unique 1st badging. The base model is set to cost under €40,000 and will feature 18-inch alloy wheels, ID. Light, the car's innovative Hello ID. voice control system, navigation with internet connection and wireless app connect for smartphone pairing.

The ID.3 1st Plus model is the mid-level version. It gains larger 19-inch wheels, rear privacy glass, matrix LED headlights, a two-tone colour scheme, reversing camera upgraded 'Design' seats and interior ambient lighting, for an expected cost of just under €45,000. Then the range-topping ID.3 Max, which is set to cost under €50,000 will receive 20-inch alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof, Beats Audi sound system the augmented reality head-up display and 'Comfort' seats with a built-in massage function.

Green energy and home charging

For some ID.3 buyers, this car will be their first electric vehicle and to help with the transition Volkswagen has set up a subsidiary company called Elli that can assist in switching to a green energy supplier for their home. Like many other car companies, Volkswagen also offers its own branded home charger unit, a 7.4kWh wallbox that comes with either a 4.5m or 7.5m charging cable. The wallbox is Wi-Fi enabled and can be set to automatically charge at times where the user has a lower electricity rate.

A year of 'free' motoring

As one further incentive, Volkswagen is providing all pre-bookers of the ID.3 with 2,000kWh or 12 months of free public charging through its WeCharge card. This card will enable users to recharge at any public charging station irrespective of supplier. That amount of energy is, says Volkswagen, the equivalent of 12,000 kilometres of driving.

You can see our video of the Volkswagen ID.3 below.