Volkswagen ID.3 battery shows impressive health after 99,400 miles in ADAC test

One of the biggest questions hovering over electric cars is the long-term health of their batteries. Will an expensive EV hold its value, or will its battery degrade quickly, leaving owners with a big replacement bill?

A recent long-term test by Germany's largest automobile club, ADAC, provides a reassuring answer, at least for one popular model: the Volkswagen ID.3. After putting the electric hatchback through a grueling four-year, 99,400 miles endurance test, the results are in, and they look very promising.

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The engineers at the ADAC Test and Technology Centre in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, didn't exactly treat the VW ID.3 with gloves. Their goal was to simulate a tough, real-world ownership experience, and then some. They subjected the car to a demanding charging routine, using high-speed DC fast chargers for over 40% of all charging sessions.

Frequent fast charging is generally considered more stressful on a battery than slower, overnight charging at home. To add to the stress, testers often ignored best practices, leaving the car parked for days at a time with its battery at a full 100 percent charge - a practice typically advised against for maintaining long-term battery health.

The subject of this automotive trial was a Volkswagen ID.3 Pro S, equipped with a 77 kWh usable battery pack. After the extensive 99,400 miles journey, the ADAC engineers performed a final health check on the battery.

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The key finding was remarkable: the high-voltage battery still had a net capacity of 91% of the original value. To put that figure in perspective, Volkswagen's own warranty for all its ID. models presumes the battery will keep at least 70% of its original capacity after eight years or 99,400 miles.

This result suggests that fears of rapid battery degradation may be overstated for modern electric cars. "A high battery capacity of over 90 percent after 160,000 kilometers confirms that our ID. models are also very attractive as used cars," noted Martin Sander, a member of the Volkswagen Board of Management.

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The test revealed another critical aspect of modern EV ownership: the importance of software. Throughout the four-year test, the ID.3 received several over-the-air updates. The ADAC testers strongly recommend that owners always install these updates.

The software improvements delivered more than just bug fixes. One update boosted the vehicle's maximum charging power up to 170 kW, reducing time spent at charging stations. Another update improved the car's Electric Vehicle Route Planner, making it smarter at planning long trips by considering traffic and charger availability.

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But most importantly, software updates had a direct impact on the car's efficiency and range. New software reduced energy consumption, particularly during short trips and in cold winter weather, where temperatures hovered between 32°F and 41°F.

This shows that, unlike a gasoline car, an electric car can actually improve its performance and efficiency over time. The ADAC also noted that beyond the battery, the rest of the car held up admirably. The body, chassis, suspension, and steering showed no significant problems, handling the vehicle's substantial weight without issue over the high mileage.

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