Volkswagen ID.3 Battery Holds Up Amazingly After 160,000 Km Test

Germany’s largest automobile club, ADAC, has completed an extensive four-year battery endurance test of the Volkswagen ID.3 - with promising results. Despite clocking over 160,000 km since 2021, the test car’s 77 kWh battery retained 91% of its original capacity, showing minimal degradation.

This long-term evaluation offers valuable insights for Australian EV drivers, especially those concerned about battery longevity in daily use and varying weather conditions.

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Testing the ID.3 Over Four Years

The ADAC began testing the ID.3 in May 2021, subjecting it to daily use rather than controlled lab conditions. Their routine included regular full charges to 100%, and the vehicle often sat at that charge level, both habits that are typically discouraged when trying to preserve battery health. Despite that, the battery remained in good condition.

Throughout the test period, ADAC performed battery health checks at different mileage intervals. Here’s how the State of Health (SoH) changed over time:

Battery State of Health Over Time

According to ADAC, the readings come from Aviloo battery diagnostics, which allow a margin of error of around ±3%.

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Battery Warranty and Cold Weather Performance

Volkswagen covers the ID.3’s battery for up to 160,000 km or eight years, whichever comes first. The warranty activates if the battery’s capacity drops below 70%, far below the 91% seen in this test.

However, ADAC pointed out some cold weather limitations. In colder months, the range drops from around 400 km to between 300 and 320 km, and fast charging slows considerably even though the ID.3 has a battery heater. This suggests that real-world winter performance could use improvement, something Australian drivers are typically less impacted by due to our warmer climate.

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Recommendations from the Road Test

ADAC concluded that while the ID.3’s battery performance is strong, there’s room for improvement in cold weather functionality. Their recommendations include:

• Volkswagen should enable better battery conditioning, especially for fast charging in older ID.3 models via software updates.
• Owners should regularly install software updates, as these can enhance efficiency and performance over time.

Volkswagen Responds

Volkswagen welcomed the results, with Martin Sander, Board Member responsible for sales and aftersales, stating:

“A high battery capacity of over 90% after 160,000 kilometres confirms that our ID. models are also very attractive as used cars and continue to meet the requirements of our customers.”

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What It Means for Australian Drivers

As EV uptake continues to grow across Australia, long-term battery performance is a key concern for many buyers. This test shows that even under less-than-ideal charging habits, Volkswagen’s ID.3 holds up impressively over time.

With the ID.3 not yet available in Australia, results like these may influence future local demand. It also builds trust in the durability of EV batteries, helping to ease concerns about second-hand electric vehicles and battery replacement costs.