Volkswagen is introducing battery preconditioning to older ID models
Volkswagen is expanding the features of its older electric vehicles in the ID series. With ID. Software 3.9.1, manual pre-conditioning of the high-voltage battery before DC fast charging is now available. Additionally, the OTA update improves thermal management, AC charging, and system stability among other things.
Only older electric cars like this 2021 ID.3 will receive this update
Image: Volkswagen
The automaker has now announced the software update via the official ID. Drivers Club. The new version 3.9.1 will be distributed as an Over-the-Air update (OTA) and is set to be rolled out soon. It is intended for vehicles with software generation 3.x, primarily those in the ID.4 and ID.5 series built before October 2023, the ID.3 models produced up to 2024, and early versions of the ID. Buzz. According to a report by InsideEVs, older models of the Skoda Enyaq series will also receive this update. Later model years of these vehicles are equipped with a newer software generation that offers more capabilities than generation 3.x.
The new pre-conditioning in version 3.9.1 allows the battery to be brought to a temperature more favorable for fast charging before connecting to a DC charging station. Especially in low outdoor temperatures, a cold battery can significantly limit charging performance. By warming the battery in advance, the available charging capacity can be utilized more effectively, which may also shorten the charging time. This new feature is activated through an additional interface in the infotainment system.
In contrast, the newer software versions 4.x and 5.x offer pre-conditioning, which is not available for older model years, but has been available for some time. In compatible vehicles, it can be automatically activated based on the navigation route to a charging station or started manually.
In addition to the new preconditioning, Volkswagen has also revised the thermal management of the high-voltage battery in software version 3.9.1. This change is intended to allow the temperature to be adjusted more closely to the specific driving conditions. The battery is also cooled more effectively after a DC fast charging session, which helps Volkswagen improve battery longevity as well.
Other changes relate to AC charging and PV surplus charging. In some cases, the AC charging capacity could previously drop unexpectedly during a charging process. The new software is designed to detect such situations and stabilize the charging power. Additionally, the interaction with smart wallboxes has been improved: after an interruption in PV surplus charging, the charging process should now resume more reliably. Volkswagen cites the Smartfox Pro Charger as an example.
The electrical door handles also see improvements in reliability under various weather conditions. Additionally, there is enhanced monitoring of the high-voltage battery, which is designed to detect abnormally high self-discharge and issue an appropriate warning message. Other minor adjustments involve the welcome screen in the infotainment system and the display of certain warning messages.
The rollout of ID. Software 3.9.1 is set to begin soon and will take place gradually. According to the ID. Drivers Club, this update requires at least software version 3.7. Vehicles with older versions must first be upgraded to a newer version if necessary. For the OTA download, a corresponding VW-Connect or We-Connect contract along with the required consent for data transmission is also needed. Installation requires the high-voltage battery to be at least 50 percent charged. The vehicle cannot be driven or charged during the update. Volkswagen also notes that the new version is a prerequisite for receiving future OTA updates.