Volkswagen updates its older electric cars: adding preheating for faster charging

Purchasing an electric car and seeing how newer models come equipped with features that your car lacks can be quite frustrating. That’s why updates that bring practical improvements to older models hold special value. Volkswagen is preparing a new release for the initial ID models, featuring changes that go beyond simply fixing minor issues.

It’s the ID. Software 3.9.1 update, which will begin being distributed wirelessly. Its main novelty is the manual pre-conditioning of the battery before a fast charge. This is a feature that owners have long requested, allowing them to prepare their car before reaching a charger, especially in cold temperatures.

The reason is simple: a cold battery can significantly limit charging power, even when connected to a source capable of delivering much more. With this feature, drivers can activate heating in advance so the battery arrives at the destination in better condition. This can help reduce waiting times during winter trips.

An update for better charging and battery care

Volkswagen is also making changes to battery thermal management, which will adjust its temperature based on driving conditions and improve cooling after fast charging. According to the brand, these modifications can enhance efficiency, range, and long-term battery health. No specific increase in mileage has been announced.

AC charging is another area that has been revised. The update fixes an issue that, under certain circumstances, caused unexpected drops in power during recharging. For those who charge their car at home and aim to recover a certain amount of energy overnight, this stability is far more important than any change in the screen display.

It also improves communication with chargers that utilize excess power from a photovoltaic installation. The goal is to allow charging to resume more reliably after an interruption, preventing a pause from leaving the car unable to utilize available solar energy.

Another new feature relates to detecting potential battery problems. After installing the update, the system will check for abnormally high self-discharge. If such a situation is detected, it will activate a yellow indicator light to prompt the owner to visit a service center. Volkswagen states that this check applies to a small number of batteries, but it helps identify a problem that could shorten their lifespan.

The changes also affect the door electric actuators, whose functionality is being reviewed to improve reliability in rainy and humid conditions. Additionally, incorrect warnings related to the child safety lock and other minor system flaws are being fixed. These are less noticeable details compared to fast charging, but they are part of those annoyances that eventually impact daily use.

As of now, there is no exact date for when the rollout will begin, although Volkswagen states it will arrive soon. The update maintains support for older ID models that use 3.x series software, which is good news for those still waiting for improvements after several years of owning the car.

Manual preheating arrives too late for those who have been requesting it for a long time. But when traveling in cold weather, being able to prepare the battery before plugging it in is an improvement that is much more appreciated than some new menu option.