Volkswagen ID.3 Forum

https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/electri ... ranty.html

Are you following VW's advice on this? I'm trying to take care of the battery as much as possible.

I tend to use my car for shorter distances. Because it's winter I've been charging when my battery drops below 40% up to a max of 80%.

Yep. That’s what I do. If I needed the 100% mileage I would charge it to 100%.

Pretty much, I let it go down to 20% though as most of my journeys are local.

scott28tt wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:27 pm Pretty much, I let it go down to 20% though as most of my journeys are local.

This article I linked recommends 40% lowest for the winter and short journeys.

scott28tt wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:27 pm Pretty much, I let it go down to 20% though as most of my journeys are local.

I generally do too, having just 40% battery capacity to play with between charges (80>40%) would mean we'd be charging far more often.

VW have explained why you should generally only charge to 80% except for a journey that requires your full range (correct cycling of battery to ensure all cells get charged a roughly equal number of times), Not exactly sure why we aren't advised to take it below 40% in the Winter when 20% is fine in the Summer. I could hazard a guess at a few scenarios, such as heating of battery pack during a low and long charge (+60%) while ambient temp is so low (I generally only charge 42% at a time as that's how much the Octopus GO window will charge between 0030 and 0430. I'd like to know why VW want us to keep above 40% in Winter.

phixion wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:43 pm

scott28tt wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:27 pm Pretty much, I let it go down to 20% though as most of my journeys are local.

This article I linked recommends 40% lowest for the winter and short journeys.

I know, hence “pretty much” rather than “absolutely”.

Yes. Currently 40%-70% covers my range adequately.

I’ve got a four year lease on order.

Does battery health factor in when returning the car?

Also, would reduced range be evident in the 4 year span if I charged to 100% regularly?

They are recommendations, not strict rules, lease companies couldn't oblige you to charge 40-80% in Winter.

SomeIrishGuy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:00 am Does battery health factor in when returning the car?

We don't know yet.

SomeIrishGuy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:00 am Also, would reduced range be evident in the 4 year span if I charged to 100% regularly?

We don't know yet.

SomeIrishGuy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:00 am I’ve got a four year lease on order.

Does battery health factor in when returning the car?

Also, would reduced range be evident in the 4 year span if I charged to 100% regularly?

Surely, if those were relevant, there would be something in the small print for your lease? How can they hold you to something that they don't specify? I guess you have a mileage agreed with them? That's specified. If you overdo it, then they charge you.

scott28tt wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 4:59 pm

phixion wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:43 pm

scott28tt wrote: ↑Tue Dec 14, 2021 3:27 pm Pretty much, I let it go down to 20% though as most of my journeys are local.

This article I linked recommends 40% lowest for the winter and short journeys.

I know, hence “pretty much” rather than “absolutely”.

Reading https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/electri ... ranty.html, the 20% / 40% loading limit are the levels below which the battery should not be left for long periods of time, not a limit on the amount of battery you can use.

So for optimum performance in summer don't leave the battery at below 20% for long periods of time and in winter don't leave the battery at below 40% for long periods of time.

This is normally how I work, for short journeys I don't get below 40% and for long journeys I charge after them, so may be at 3% but then charge to 80% or at least above 40% before leaving vehicle off charge.

So you not limited to just 40% of battery in winter and 60% in summer.

SomeIrishGuy wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 6:00 am I’ve got a four year lease on order.

Does battery health factor in when returning the car?

Also, would reduced range be evident in the 4 year span if I charged to 100% regularly?

Personally I like to look after a lease vehicle and hand it back in good condition and follow manufacturer guidance on tyre pressures, servicing etc. I don't think it is particularly "green" to drive a battery into the ground rapid charging to 100% regularly just "because its a lease vehicle" and it doesn't matter as you don't own it. I think the BVRLA need to update their fair wear and tear guidance to cover EVs and battery health. I also wonder whether the RAC/AA need to update their second hand vehicle checks to cover this as well? Can you imagine the market being flooded in 3-4 years with lots of BiK company leased EVs suddenly being auctioned off - all looking great with perfect paint but with badly abused battery's?

Smitten wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:51 pm Can you imagine the market being flooded in 3-4 years with lots of BiK company leased EVs suddenly being auctioned off - all looking great with perfect paint but with badly abused battery's?

As opposed to ICE company cars that have been run on the rev limiter or not serviced etc.
At least you can actually check the health of the battery where as you will find it more difficult, in my mind, to do the same with an ICE.

I'll be keeping to best practise when my car arrives based mainly on looking after mechanical equipment but alos with a view to purchase depending on how the first couple of years of ownership go.

Mines a 3 year lease and I am still taking care of the battery.

I want the available mileage to remain as high as possible for as long as possible.

Splash-Man wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:58 pm

Smitten wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 2:51 pm Can you imagine the market being flooded in 3-4 years with lots of BiK company leased EVs suddenly being auctioned off - all looking great with perfect paint but with badly abused battery's?

As opposed to ICE company cars that have been run on the rev limiter or not serviced etc.
At least you can actually check the health of the battery where as you will find it more difficult, in my mind, to do the same with an ICE.

I'll be keeping to best practise when my car arrives based mainly on looking after mechanical equipment but alos with a view to purchase depending on how the first couple of years of ownership go.

Caveat emptor! Another reason for us all to lease/buy/PCP a new, untouched EV rather than buying second hand from a dealer, who has bought it at auction and knows nothing about the car or where it came from. Be interesting if you could view the Tronity file or similar for a used EV that exposed how the car had been used/rapid charged

Any body out there know at what point Volkswagen will replace a depleting battery?

I would doubt very much that over three years of use there will be any noticeable depreciation ion the efficiency of an ID3's battery pack.

Busman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 1:01 pm Any body out there know at what point Volkswagen will replace a depleting battery?

If it’s worse than the warranty conditions?

(70% of original capacity after 8 years or 100,000 miles)

Like most warranties, the devil is in the detail. If the battery capacity falls below 70% then the warranty kicks-in but they will only repair it sufficient to bring the capacity back to 78% of the original amount. For cars over 5 years old they will only bring it back to 70% of the starting value. See the VW warranty page - the info is near the bottom of the long page https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/en/owners- ... terms.html

I wonder if the id.3 has any battery charging stats recorded internally that VW can access so any claims on the battery warranty can be rejected on the grounds that you have not maintained the battery sufficiently well?