Audi Q8 PHEV charging cable

The Audi Q8 TFSI e quattro is a large luxury SUV coupé that pairs a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine with a single electric motor and a sizeable plug-in battery. Two power variants are available: the 55 TFSI e quattro with 394 PS combined system output and 0–100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, and the 60 TFSI e quattro, which raises that to 490 PS and 0–100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. Both share the same charging hardware: a 25.9 kWh gross battery with 22 kWh usable, a 7.4 kW single-phase onboard AC charger, and a Type 2 port located on the left rear flank. There is no DC rapid charging on either variant.

Battery, range, and what the Q8 TFSI e can do on electric power

The liquid-cooled lithium battery is mounted under the luggage compartment floor and offers 22 kWh of usable capacity, giving a WLTP combined electric range of up to 85 km (53 miles). In urban conditions that figure stretches to around 90 km (56 miles) under the WLTP EAER City standard. Both the 55 and 60 TFSI e share the same battery and the same onboard charger. The difference between them is entirely in the combustion engine tune and boost strategy, which affects system torque and peak output but has no bearing on how the car charges.

Charging at a wallbox

The 7.4 kW onboard charger is single-phase, drawing 32A on a single line. At a wallbox supplying 7.4 kW on a single phase, the car charges at its full rate and completes a charge from empty in approximately three hours and 45 minutes. Connecting to a three-phase 11 kW or 22 kW wallbox does not increase speed: the onboard charger draws only from a single phase and is capped at 7.4 kW regardless of what the wallbox delivers. In practice, most owners top up partially rather than charge from empty. A 50% top-up from a 7.4 kW wallbox takes around 55 minutes, which fits easily into a working day or an evening at home.

Choosing the right cable

The Q8 TFSI e uses a 7.4 kW single-phase onboard charger that requires 32A on a single line to reach its full rate. An 11 kW three-phase cable is not the correct match for this car: its conductors are rated at 16A per phase, and when used with a single-phase supply it delivers only 16A × 230V = 3.7 kW, halving the charge speed. To reach the full 7.4 kW, the correct choice is either a Voldt® 7.4 kW single-phase Type 2 cable or a 22 kW three-phase cable, whose conductors are rated at 32A per phase and can carry the full single-phase load without restriction.

A 22 kW cable is the more versatile choice: it works at full speed with the Q8 TFSI e today and is fully compatible with any future vehicle that supports 11 kW or 22 kW three-phase AC charging, with no change of hardware required.

Cable length

The charging port sits on the left rear flank. Reversing to the wallbox is often the most practical approach at home, keeping the port close to the charge point. For most driveways and garages, a 5 or 6-metre cable is sufficient. For public charging, an 8-metre cable removes the guesswork: station layouts vary considerably, and the port's rear position means the additional length often proves useful at locations where the post is not directly beside the bay.

Portable charging with a CEE charger

The Voldt® portable CEE charging cable is a practical addition for travel or locations without a dedicated wallbox. Because the onboard charger is single-phase and capped at 7.4 kW, socket type has a direct impact on charge times.

On a 16A single-phase CEE socket (3.7 kW), the car receives 16A on one phase, equating to 3.7 kW. A full charge from empty takes around seven hours. On a 16A three-phase CEE socket, the single-phase charger again draws from one phase only, receiving 16A at 230V: the result is the same 3.7 kW and around seven hours. On a 32A three-phase CEE socket, the single phase available to the car carries 32A at 230V, equating to 7.4 kW. A full charge from empty takes approximately three hours and 45 minutes, matching the speed of a dedicated wallbox.

Red three-phase CEE sockets are found at industrial sites, workshops, and some commercial marinas. Standard European campsite hookup points use blue single-phase 16A CEE sockets, which cap output at 3.7 kW and result in the seven-hour charge time noted above. For a 22 kWh battery, a campsite overnight stop is fully practical at this rate.

Certified, tested, warranted

Voldt® charging cables are CE, UKCA and TÜV certified and manufactured according to IATF 16949 automotive quality standards. Single-piece moulded connectors, no glue or screws. IP67-rated for operation between −30°C and +50°C. 100% copper conductors with silver-plated contacts. Tested beyond 10,000 connection cycles. Three-year warranty, 100-day returns, free shipping across Europe.