Audi electric cars, whether you drive a Q4 e-tron, e-tron GT or Q8 e-tron, all share the same Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) AC inlet. But they don’t all charge at the same speed, and none of them come with a cable in the box. Knowing which Audi e-tron charging cable to buy depends on your model’s onboard charger, your home supply, and whether you want to make the most of public three-phase AC posts. We’ll walk you through every variant so you leave with the right answer.
What connector do Audi electric cars use?
Type 2 (IEC 62196-2): the standard across all Audi EVs
Every current Audi electric vehicle uses a Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) inlet for AC charging. The Q4 e-tron, e-tron GT, RS e-tron GT and Q8 e-tron all share the same seven-pin socket, the pan-European standard that accepts both single-phase and three-phase supply. One cable type covers your home wallbox, workplace charger and any public AC post you encounter.
The connector carries three live conductors (L1, L2, L3), a neutral (N), a protective earth (PE), plus Control Pilot (CP) and Proximity Pilot (PP) signal pins that handle the handshake between car and charger.
- Type 2 connector, 7 pins, 3-phase capable, 16A standard (11kW) / 32A for e-tron GT 22kW option; Q4 e-tron, e-tron GT, Q8 e-tron
For rapid DC charging, all Audi EVs use a CCS (Combined Charging System) port. That inlet is separate from the Type 2 AC inlet and is not covered by this guide, which focuses on AC cables for wallbox and public AC post charging.
Audi EV models and their onboard charging speeds
The models share a platform family and the same Type 2 inlet, but their onboard AC chargers are not identical, and that directly determines how fast they can charge on AC and, critically, which cable delivers full performance rather than leaving speed on the table.
Q4 e-tron: 11kW standard
According to manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets (Audi UK), the Q4 e-tron is fitted with an 11kW three-phase onboard AC charger as standard, operating at 400V × 16A across three phases. There is no higher-rate AC option for this model.
At a public three-phase 11kW AC post the Q4 e-tron charges at the full 11kW. At a typical UK home wallbox on single-phase supply, the ceiling is 7.4kW. The car accepts whatever the supply provides.
e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT: 11kW standard, 22kW optional
The e-tron GT is the only Audi EV in the current UK range with a higher-rate AC option. As standard it ships with an 11kW onboard AC charger, identical in spec to the Q4 e-tron.
Factory option AX5 upgrades the onboard charger to 22kW (400V × 32A × three phases). This is a paid factory option that must be specified at order; it cannot be retrofitted. Check your order specification or the vehicle’s onboard display to confirm which charger your car has.
Q8 e-tron: 11kW standard
The Q8 e-tron (formerly the e-tron 55) carries an 11kW three-phase onboard AC charger as standard. Manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets (Audi UK) confirm the 11kW figure across all current Q8 e-tron variants. There is no 22kW AC option for this model.
Why the e-tron GT’s 22kW option changes everything
What factory option AX5 actually gives you
If you have option AX5, your e-tron GT can accept AC charge at twice the rate of any other Audi EV. At a compatible 22kW three-phase AC post, charge time is roughly halved compared with 11kW: adding 100 miles of range takes approximately one hour at 22kW versus two at 11kW. The benefit is most significant on public AC charging, where 22kW posts are increasingly available at hotels, airports and destination chargers.
For a detailed breakdown of why the kW rating matters for real-world charge times, see our 7kW vs 22kW charging cable guide.
What cable and supply you need to unlock 22kW
To realise 22kW you need two things: a 22kW-rated 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable (an 11kW-rated cable will cap output at 11kW even if the post could supply more), and a post or wallbox rated to 22kW on three-phase supply.
Most UK homes are single-phase. Installing a three-phase domestic supply requires DNO approval and is a significant project. BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Section 722 governs EV wiring requirements including three-phase installations. Even e-tron GT owners with option AX5 will typically charge at 7.4kW at home on single-phase. The 22kW benefit is a public-infrastructure advantage.
Single-phase vs three-phase: what this means for your home charge
Most UK homes are single-phase (7.4kW ceiling)
The overwhelming majority of UK homes have a single-phase electricity supply. At 230V on a 32A circuit, the maximum is 7.4kW, the ceiling for home AC EV charging regardless of what the car’s onboard charger can theoretically handle. A Q4 e-tron with an 11kW onboard charger connected to a single-phase 7.4kW wallbox charges at 7.4kW. This is expected and normal.
For a deeper explanation, our single-phase vs three-phase guide covers the topic fully.
Future-proofing with a 3-phase 32A cable
We recommend a 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable for every Audi EV owner, regardless of model. A 3-phase cable is fully compatible with single-phase wallboxes: it simply draws from one live conductor and leaves the others unused, giving you the same 7.4kW as a single-phase cable at home.
The difference appears at public three-phase AC posts: with a 3-phase cable, the Q4 e-tron or Q8 e-tron steps up from 7.4kW to 11kW automatically. With a single-phase cable, it stays at 7.4kW even when the post can supply more. The cost premium over a single-phase cable is modest. As the UK public charging network continues to expand its three-phase AC provision, the real-world speed advantage of holding a 3-phase cable will only grow.
Which Audi e-tron charging cable should you buy?
No Audi EV sold in the UK includes a charging cable as standard, confirmed by manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets (Audi UK) and consistent with what we hear from customers through EV Cable Hub first-party data. Every Audi owner needs to purchase a cable separately.
- | Model | AC onboard charger | Phase required | Max home charge | Recommended cable |
- |-----------------|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|--------------------------|
- | Q4 e-tron | 11kW standard | 3-phase (16A) | 7.4kW (1-phase) | 3-phase 32A Type 2 |
- | e-tron GT | 11kW standard | 3-phase (16A) | 7.4kW (1-phase) | 3-phase 32A Type 2 |
- | e-tron GT (AX5) | 22kW optional | 3-phase (32A) | 7.4kW (1-phase) | 22kW 3-phase 32A Type 2 |
- | Q8 e-tron | 11kW standard | 3-phase (16A) | 7.4kW (1-phase) | 3-phase 32A Type 2 |
Q4 e-tron and Q8 e-tron owners: a 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable rated to 11kW is the right choice. Browse our Type 2 charging cables range for 5 m and 7.5 m options.
e-tron GT owners without option AX5 (standard 11kW): the same 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable applies. You are in the same position as Q4 e-tron owners for AC charging purposes.
e-tron GT owners with option AX5 (22kW): choose a 22kW-rated 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable from our 22kw-charging-cables range. It is rated to the higher 32A-per-phase current and supports the full 22kW at compatible public posts, while working perfectly at 7.4kW on a single-phase home wallbox.
All relevant options are collected on our audi-ev-charging-cables brand page.
On cable length: 5 m reaches most home parking situations comfortably; 7.5 m suits awkward layouts or variable public bay positions. Our cable length guide takes you through the decision in full.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Audi Q4 e-tron come with a charging cable?
No. Audi UK does not include a charging cable as standard with any new EV, including the Q4 e-tron. You need to purchase a Type 2 cable separately before you can charge at a wallbox or public AC post.
What charging cable does the Audi e-tron GT need?
The e-tron GT uses a Type 2 (IEC 62196-2) inlet. Most owners need a 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable rated to 11kW. If your car has the optional 22kW onboard charger (factory option AX5), choose a 22kW-rated 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable to unlock the full benefit at compatible public posts.
Can I charge my Audi e-tron GT at 22kW at home?
Only if your home has a three-phase supply (400V, 32A per phase), a 22kW-capable wallbox, and your car has factory option AX5. Most UK homes are single-phase, which limits AC charging to 7.4kW. Installing three-phase supply requires DNO approval; BS 7671:2018+A2:2022 Section 722 governs such installations.
What is the difference between an 11kW and a 22kW charging cable?
An 11kW cable is rated to 16A per phase; a 22kW cable is rated to 32A per phase. Both use the same Type 2 connector. The difference is internal conductor gauge and current rating. Using an 11kW cable on an e-tron GT with AX5 caps output at 11kW even at a 22kW post.
Can I use a single-phase cable on my Audi Q4 e-tron?
Yes, but it limits output to 7.4kW everywhere, including at public three-phase posts where the Q4 e-tron could otherwise draw 11kW. A 3-phase 32A cable does the same job at home and unlocks 11kW at three-phase posts. We recommend 3-phase for all Audi EV owners.
Does the Audi Q8 e-tron support 22kW charging?
No. The Q8 e-tron has an 11kW three-phase onboard charger as standard, with no 22kW upgrade option. A 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable rated to 11kW is the correct cable for Q8 e-tron owners, per manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets (Audi UK).
How long should my Audi e-tron charging cable be?
5 m suits most dedicated home parking spaces. 7.5 m is worth considering for awkward angles, shared parking areas or public bay layouts where the post position varies. See our cable length guide for the full decision framework.