Audi USB-C Car Charger: Why Your Phone Charges Slowly

You're driving with the sat nav on, your phone is connected to the car, and instead of charging, the battery percentage keeps dropping. Or you drive for a whole hour and gain barely 10%. Sound familiar? Before you blame your phone or its battery, have a look at your Audi USB-C car charger setup. More often than not, the problem is the USB port, the cable or the charger itself. And that's exactly where I'd start looking.

Why does your phone charge so slowly in the car?

• Older USB-A ports deliver very little power. They're fine for transferring data, but don't expect fast charging from them.
• The port was designed mainly for CarPlay or Android Auto, so it simply can't deliver much charging power.
• Your cable is cheap, too thin or already damaged.
• Your phone and charger don't support the same fast-charging standard, so they can't work together properly.
• The sat nav and a screen that's constantly on use more power than the charger can put back into the battery.

What is USB-C Power Delivery, and why do you need it?

Power Delivery is a fast-charging standard. Put simply, your phone and charger communicate to agree on how much power to deliver without overloading anything. If they both support it and you're using the right cable, your phone can charge several times faster. Some chargers are powerful enough to charge a tablet or even a laptop. And when you're driving with the sat nav running, you'll notice the difference straight away.

How can you charge your phone faster in the car?

1. Get a USB-C charger with Power Delivery and plug it into your car's 12 V socket.
2. Choose a good-quality USB-C cable rated for the power you need. Not every cable supports fast charging.
3. Don't pull the cable tight or bend it sharply. That's one of the easiest ways to damage it.
4. If you're using a wireless charger, try removing your phone case, especially if it's a thick one.

Can we retrofit USB-C ports to an older Audi?

Some Audi models have genuine USB-C modules that we can use to replace the older ports. It's called a retrofit, and it's something we do at Das Auto Service. I want everything in your car to look and work exactly as though it came that way from the factory. No obvious signs that anything was added later.

A tip from Kris Mladenov: If your phone gets really hot while charging, check whether the sun is shining directly on it in its holder. Move it somewhere cooler. Heat slows down charging and damages the battery. Look after it.

If you're fed up with your phone losing battery while it's supposedly charging, have a look at the Audi USB-C chargers and cables in our shop. Just make sure you choose the right charger and a suitable cable. Both matter.

Which Audi USB-C car charger accessories can you find in our shop?

Audi USB car charger – 100 Watt

The Audi USB car charger delivers up to 100 W of power, so you can quickly charge your phone, tablet or even a laptop.

View in our shop

Audi USB Type-C® Power Delivery charging cable

The Audi USB-C Power Delivery cable supports fast charging, provided your phone and charger are compatible.

View in our shop

What else might you find useful?

• Convenience accessories in our shop
• Retrofitting at Das Auto Service
• What should I buy as a gift for an Audi or VW owner?
• Factory-style Virtual Cockpit, camera and lighting retrofits

Frequently asked questions

Why does my phone charge so slowly in the car?

Usually, the USB port, cable or charger simply isn't delivering enough power. It's especially noticeable when you're using sat nav and the screen stays on the whole time.

Can a USB-C car charger charge a laptop?

Yes, as long as the charger delivers enough power and your laptop supports charging via USB-C.

Can you fit USB-C ports to an older car?

On some models, we can retrofit USB-C ports so they look and work just like factory-fitted ones. Tell us what car you drive and we'll check what's possible.