Volkswagen ID.3's battery impresses in endurance test

After four years of endurance testing, the ADAC testers have given the Volkswagen ID.3 an excellent report, with the engineers at the Test and Technology Centre in Germany covering more than 160,000km. A Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S model (77kWh battery) was tested, and its battery was found to still retain a net capacity of 91%.

The ADAC testers did not go easy on the battery. To reach the 160,000 kilometres as quickly as possible, rapid charging stations were used to charge the ID.3 Pro S for over 40% of the charging sessions. In addition, contrary to what is recommended, the vehicle was also left at the charging station with a 100% charge level between test drives, sometimes over several days.

Between the test drives, the ID.3 was repeatedly checked by the engineers at the Bavarian Test and Technology Centre, particularly with regard to its battery condition

The ADAC has a clear recommendation for customers: Software updates should always be installed.

During the endurance test, the ID.3 received several software updates, including the Electric Vehicle Route Planner, which plans the charging stops on a longer route, so the destination is reached as quickly as possible. In addition to the charge level, the system also considers the current traffic situation and forecasts.

Alongside various bug fixes, the updates included an increase in charging capacity to up to 170kW.

The ADAC testers also highlighted that despite the high mileage, the body and chassis were in good condition. The axles, suspension, and steering also coped well with the vehicle weight and did not show any significant issues or problems.