Volkswagen Software 3.x Update Adds Battery Heating to Older EVs
Volkswagen is adding battery preconditioning to MEB-based EVs from 2020 to 2024 via a 3.9.1 update, along with revised thermal management and battery checks.
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giftdetect· the right gift in minutesVolkswagen is retrofitting battery preconditioning to older electric cars built on its MEB platform. The over-the-air update to Software 3.9.1 covers many 2020 to 2024 models, and for many owners the battery heater is the most missed feature. Drivers can now preheat the battery before a DC fast-charging stop, though the process has to be started manually in the car's charging menu.
What else changes
The update also reworks thermal management. The battery temperature adapts automatically to driving behaviour, and the pack is cooled after fast charging to protect range and slow ageing. After installation, the car checks the high-voltage battery for increased self-discharge, which VW says is needed for only a few batteries. If the test flags a problem, a yellow warning light appears and owners should visit a workshop. The car stays drivable, but without a check the battery's lifespan could shorten.
Smaller fixes include better electric door handles, which can malfunction in wet weather without the update, a fix for an unexpected power drop during AC charging, and a welcome screen that now closes after five seconds. VW strongly recommends the unspecified security updates but names no CVE numbers.
The release notes do not list affected vehicles. The update mainly concerns the ID.4 and ID.5 built before October 2023, the ID.3 up to 2024 and early ID. Buzz models. The older Skoda Enyaq gets preconditioning through its own ME3.9 update. VW is rolling it out in waves, and has not said how the first cars are chosen.
Limits and requirements
VW gives no target temperature, lead time or range cost for preheating, and it is unclear whether heating starts automatically when a fast charger is set as the navigation destination. Newer software generations can do that.
Installation needs an active VW Connect or We Connect contract, consent to data use and online mode enabled. The battery must be at least 50 percent charged. During installation the car can neither be driven nor charged, and the alarm is inactive. There is no rollback. Only cars already on version 3.7 or later get 3.9.1 over the air. Owners who skip it keep their warranty but are cut off from future OTA updates. A jump to software 4.x to 6.x is not possible for 3.x cars, because UNECE rules in force since July 2022 require new hardware, according to VW.
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