The short answer
The trim matters. The Audi Q4 40, 45 and 50 e-tron accept 11 kW on AC; the Q4 35 accepts 7.2 kW. For an 11 kW car, buy a 48 A charger on a 60 A breaker. For a Q4 35, a 32 A charger on a 40 A breaker matches it exactly, and anything larger delivers no extra speed.
A 35% difference in charge rate hidden behind a two-digit trim designation is exactly the kind of thing that produces an oversized circuit. Audi's own onboard-charger documentation is the place to confirm which you have, and it is worth five minutes before the electrician quotes.
The constraint: what this car accepts
Everything else on this page follows from one number. The Audi Q4 e-tron's onboard charger accepts a maximum of 11 kW, which is 48 amps at 240 volts. No wall charger can exceed it, and a charger rated above it delivers no extra speed.
| Specification | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum AC power accepted | 11 kW | Audi Q4 e-tron onboard charger documentation |
| Maximum AC current at 240 V | 48 A | Audi Q4 e-tron onboard charger documentation |
| Connector | J1772 | Audi USA Q4 e-tron information |
| EPA range (2026 Q4 45 e-tron) | 288 mi | US DOE / EPA fueleconomy.gov |
| EPA efficiency | 29.4 kWh / 100 mi (115 MPGe) | US DOE / EPA fueleconomy.gov |
| EPA published 240 V charge time | 12 hours | US DOE / EPA fueleconomy.gov |
The consequence: the circuit you actually need
Take the car's 48 A ceiling and work backwards. NEC 625.42 classifies EV charging as a continuous load, and NEC 625.41 requires overcurrent protection at not less than 125% of the maximum load — so a 48 A charger needs a 60 A two-pole breaker and 6 AWG copper at the 75 degC column of NEC Table 310.16.
| Item | This car | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Charger output | 48 A | Matches the car's 48 A ceiling exactly |
| Power delivered | 11.0 kW | The lower of the charger's output and the car's limit |
| Breaker | 60 A, two-pole | NEC 625.41 — 125% of a continuous load |
| Copper conductor (conduit, 75 degC) | 6 AWG | NEC Table 310.16 |
| A bigger charger would | deliver nothing extra — this is already the car's ceiling | The lower of the two numbers always wins |
Charge times, with the arithmetic shown
EPA rates the 2026 Q4 45 e-tron at 29.4 kWh per 100 miles. That single figure lets you calculate any charge time you like, and it is why we show the formula rather than asserting a number.
hours = (miles x 29.4 / 100) / (kW x 0.9)
At 11.0 kW, this car gains about 34 miles of range per hour
The 0.9 allows for AC-to-DC conversion losses in the onboard charger — roughly 10% of what your meter records never reaches the battery. EPA efficiency figure from the US DOE / EPA fueleconomy.gov service, 2026 Q4 45 e-tron, queried 2026-10-05.
| Charger | Miles added per hour | Hours to add 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| 16 A (3.8 kW) | 12 | 8h 36m |
| 24 A (5.8 kW) | 18 | 5h 38m |
| 32 A (7.7 kW) | 24 | 4h 15m |
| 40 A (9.6 kW) | 29 | 3h 24m |
| 48 A (11.5 kW) | 34 | 2h 58m |
For context, EPA's own published figure for a full charge at 240 V on this trim is 12 hours.
What to buy for a Audi Q4 e-tron
Our picks for the Audi Q4 e-tron
Both are 48 A units that reach this car's full 11.5 kW. The top pick is most households, and anyone with a tight panel; the alternative is there because the smallest 48 a unit on a wall.
Most households, and anyone with a tight panel
Emporia Pro Level 2 EV Charger
The best-balanced 48 A charger for a typical US house: full 11.5 kW hardwired, and the only unit at this price that ships with a whole-home energy monitor so its load management is reading your actual panel rather than guessing.
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The smallest 48 A unit on a wall
Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 A
A genuinely small 48 A charger — under 8 inches square — which is the deciding factor when the only spot left is a narrow strip of wall beside the panel.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026. How we make money
We earn commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.
Connector and adapters
The Audi Q4 e-tron uses a J1772 port for AC charging, which is what the large majority of home chargers in the US have. No adapter is needed for a J1772 charger.
You need a NACS to J1772 adapter only if you intend to use a Tesla Wall Connector, a Tesla Destination charger or a Tesla Mobile Connector. Rated headroom matters on a part carrying 48 A for eight hours — see best NACS to J1772 adapters.
A J1772 car on a Tesla Wall Connector or Destination charger
A2Z EV Stellar Plug NACS to J1772 AC Adapter
80 A / 19.2 kW rated, which is genuine headroom over any home charger. The part to buy if a Tesla charger is in the picture.
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Which Q4 do you have?
| Trim | Max AC | Charger | Breaker | Copper (conduit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 35 e-tron | 7.2 kW / 32 A | 32 A | 40 A | 8 AWG |
| Q4 40 e-tron | 11 kW / 48 A | 48 A | 60 A | 6 AWG |
| Q4 45 e-tron quattro | 11 kW / 48 A | 48 A | 60 A | 6 AWG |
| Q4 50 e-tron quattro | 11 kW / 48 A | 48 A | 60 A | 6 AWG |
If you have a Q4 35, this is a page about buying less. A 32 A circuit is a meaningfully cheaper install — 8 AWG copper rather than 6 AWG, a 40 A breaker rather than 60 A, and a smaller addition to your panel's load calculation — with no charging penalty at all, because the car's limit is internal.
EPA data for the US range
| Trim | kWh / 100 mi | EPA range | EPA 240 V time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q4 45 e-tron | 29.4 | 288 mi | 12.0 h |
| Q4 55 e-tron quattro | 34.6 | 251 mi | 9.5 h |
| Q4 Sportback 55 e-tron quattro | 34.6 | 251 mi | 9.5 h |
Note the Q4 45's 12-hour EPA charge time against the 55's 9.5 hours despite better efficiency — a reminder that charge time depends on battery size and charge rate, not on efficiency alone.
The MEB platform, shared with the ID.4
The Q4 e-tron shares Volkswagen's MEB platform with the ID.4, and the charging architecture is closely related — an 11 kW AC ceiling on the main trims, J1772 in North America. If you are comparing the two cars, the home charging decision is effectively identical on the 11 kW versions.
How to confirm your trim's onboard charger
- The owner's manual charging section, which states the maximum AC charging power.
- Audi's own onboard charger documentation, linked in the sources below.
- The car's charging display when plugged into a charger rated above its ceiling — it will show its own limit.
- The build sheet or window sticker, where the onboard charger may be listed as an option.
What to buy
For an 11 kW Q4, and for a Q4 35
The first two are 48 A units for the 40/45/50. The 32 A Leviton is there for the Q4 35, where it is the correct size rather than a compromise.
Most households, and anyone with a tight panel
Emporia Pro Level 2 EV Charger
The best-balanced 48 A charger for a typical US house: full 11.5 kW hardwired, and the only unit at this price that ships with a whole-home energy monitor so its load management is reading your actual panel rather than guessing.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026. How we make money
The smallest 48 A unit on a wall
Wallbox Pulsar Plus 48 A
A genuinely small 48 A charger — under 8 inches square — which is the deciding factor when the only spot left is a narrow strip of wall beside the panel.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026. How we make money
A 40 A circuit, a PHEV, or a 100 A panel
Leviton Level 2 EV Charger (32 A, hardwired)
A 32 A hardwired unit — the right size for a Wrangler 4xe, a Model 3 RWD, or any house whose load calculation will not support more.
#ad Price as of October 5, 2026. How we make money
We earn commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.