Audi SQ8 E-Tron charging cable

The SQ8 e-tron occupies the top of the Q8 e-tron range, and its drivetrain reflects that position directly. Where the Q8 55 e-tron uses two asynchronous motors, the SQ8 adds a third, placing one unit on the front axle and a dedicated motor at each rear wheel. The result is 370 kW (503 PS) and 973 Nm of torque through quattro all-wheel drive, with individual rear-wheel torque vectoring that distinguishes it from the dual-motor variants. Both body styles share this powertrain: the conventional SUV and the Sportback, whose sloped roofline improves aerodynamics enough to add around 11 miles of WLTP range. The SUV is rated at 284 miles; the Sportback at 295 miles. Both carry a 114 kWh gross battery with 106 kWh of usable capacity. The sprint to 62 mph takes 4.5 seconds in each body style, with a top speed of 130 mph. The SQ8 e-tron is a full BEV with no combustion backup, and DC rapid charging is available via a CCS2 port at up to 170 kW. One feature of the Q8 e-tron platform that carries through to the SQ8 is the dual charging port arrangement. Two ports sit behind electrically operated covers on the front wings, one on each side of the car. The right-side port handles AC Type 2 charging. The left-side port accommodates the CCS2 DC connector. This layout means you can pull into a bay from either direction and reach a charging point without repositioning.

AC charging and charge times

The SQ8 e-tron's standard onboard AC charger runs at 11 kW three-phase. At that rate, taking the 106 kWh battery from near-empty to full requires approximately ten hours on a compatible wallbox. At a standard household socket supplying 2.3 kW, the same charge would take around 46 hours, making a domestic socket genuinely impractical for regular full charges on a battery this size. Audi offers an optional 22 kW AC charger upgrade; with a 22 kW three-phase supply, a full charge drops to around five hours and forty-five minutes. The majority of SQ8 e-trons are specified with the standard 11 kW charger, and most owners in practice use DC rapid charging for longer-range restoration, relying on the AC connection for overnight top-ups at home.

At 170 kW DC, the battery charges from 10% to 80% in approximately 31 minutes, adding around 195 miles in that window. For day-to-day use, AC at 11 kW from a home wallbox handles overnight replenishment comfortably, since 106 kWh over ten hours fits within a standard overnight dwell without any need to start charging immediately after arriving home.

Which cable does the SQ8 e-tron need?

The AC charging port on both body styles is Type 2, and a Voldt® Type 2 charging cable is what you need for wallbox charging at home or any public AC point. The standard onboard charger accepts 11 kW three-phase, so an 11 kW Voldt® cable is the correct match. There is no reason to fit a 7.4 kW cable when the onboard charger can handle 11 kW: the charge time would extend unnecessarily, and the cost difference between an 11 kW and 7.4 kW cable is marginal.

For cars specified with the optional 22 kW charger upgrade, a 22 kW three-phase Voldt® cable completes the setup, provided the wallbox also supports 22 kW output. Without a 22 kW supply, the cable makes no difference to charge speed, so it is worth confirming the wallbox rating before specifying the 22 kW option.

Because the AC Type 2 port is located on the right-hand side of the car, bay orientation matters more than it does on vehicles with a left-side or rear port. In a parallel bay, the right-side port faces the pavement rather than the post in most UK layouts, so cable length is worth considering. A 6-metre cable covers home driveways and most purpose-built charging bays without difficulty. An 8-metre cable gives additional reach for posts positioned further from the parking space, or for bays where the car needs to be pulled slightly past the standard stopping point to clear the space. For anyone using a mix of home and public AC charging, 8 metres is the more practical default.

Portable charging

The Voldt® portable CEE charging cable connects to industrial sockets and is the practical choice when a permanent wallbox is not available. A 32A three-phase CEE socket delivers 22 kW, which fills the 106 kWh battery in under six hours on the optional 22 kW charger, or reduces to around ten hours through the standard 11 kW charger at a 16A three-phase socket. A Schuko portable charger operates at 2.3 kW from a standard household outlet, which on a battery of this capacity means a full charge takes the better part of two days. The Schuko cable is a viable emergency option or a useful supplement when a small top-up is all that is needed, but it is not a realistic substitute for CEE or wallbox access on a vehicle with a 106 kWh battery.

Built to a consistent standard

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.