[Suurballe]

Hi

Happy owner of a 1st Plus ID.3

The MEB platform consist of up to 12 batteri units
The 77/82 kWh ID.3 utilizes all of these (a 12/12 config)

the 58/62 kWhID.3 utilizes 9 of 12 (9/12 config)

Does anyone know is there are 3 empty battery slots in a 9/12 ID.3 OR
is it build at the factory as a "9/9" without empty slots ?

Im guessing a unit is approx 7 kWh, weights approx 65 Kg and costs approx 2000 Euro's.

IF a 58/62 kWh has empty slots and we for a moment disregard the higher total weight it could be upgraded (!)

I personal would like to go to a vw garageand pay 2000 Euro to fill 1 more battery slot to a 10/12 config having 65/69 kWh.

Any thoughts ?

Best

 

[cah197]

Why would you do this any more than go to a VW garage and ask them to swap an ICE engine?

 

[vsmith1]

Hi

Happy owner of a 1st Plus ID.3

The MEB platform consist of up to 12 batteri units
The 77/82 kWh ID.3 utilizes all of these (a 12/12 config)

the 58/62 kWhID.3 utilizes 9 of 12 (9/12 config)

Does anyone know is there are 3 empty battery slots in a 9/12 ID.3 OR
is it build at the factory as a "9/9" without empty slots ?

Im guessing a unit is approx 7 kWh, weights approx 65 Kg and costs approx 2000 Euro's.

IF a 58/62 kWh has empty slots and we for a moment disregard the higher total weight it could be upgraded (!)

I personal would like to go to a vw garageand pay 2000 Euro to fill 1 more battery slot to a 10/12 config having 65/69 kWh.

Any thoughts ?

Best

You cannot make the assumption to "disregard the higher total weight" as it means changes to the suspension, and the type approval.

So why not just get the Tour? Yes you lose a rear seat. Which makes me think that it is not as simple as three slots are empty.

 

[Suurballe]

You cannot make the assumption to "disregard the higher total weight" as it means changes to the suspension, and the type approval.

So why not just get the Tour? Yes you lose a rear seat. Which makes me think that it is not as simple as three slots are empty.

it would be a cheap upgrade to get a little more range ! compared to get the Tour-version

 

[cah197]

it would be a cheap upgrade to get a little more range ! compared to get the Tour-version

You've had a quote from VW for this?

 

[Suurballe]

You cannot make the assumption to "disregard the higher total weight" as it means changes to the suspension, and the type approval.

So why not just get the Tour? Yes you lose a rear seat. Which makes me think that it is not as simple as three slots are empty.

Agree, filling 3 empty slots almost 200 Kg extra weigth would mean new suspension brakes etc,
but maybe ONE slot of 65 Kg could mean no changes needed to the car IF you obey the max total weight
subtracted with 65 kg (5 adults + luggage)

 

[Edd Beesley]

it would be a cheap upgrade to get a little more range ! compared to get the Tour-version

Plus another €1,500 for labour to fit it and reprogram the car, and the loss of your warranty? And telling your insurer about your modification every year? VW will never offer this as a service, it will only be done by independents.

 

[Suurballe]

You've had a quote from VW for this?

NO, thats why Im asking here

 

[Suurballe]

Plus another €1,500 for labour to fit it and reprogram the car, and the loss of your warranty? And telling your insurer about your modification every year? VW will never offer this as a service, it will only be done by independents.

Yes I think you are right, but its kind af "sad" to see the possible 3 empty battery slots just sitting there

 

[DomJ]

The answer as to whether VW will do this is no, perhaps a third party in the future but I still doubt it would be cost effective. The BMS in the car will be configured for either 77kWh or 58kWh depending on which version was purchased at new, they'd have to essentially reprogramme the BMS to accept a 65kWh option which they certainly won't be interested in doing.

 

[Phlashman]

So, 1 slot is about 6kWh, The question is how much is that extra 18-24 miles worth to you?

If you've got a 200 mile daily commute, then I'd imagine you'd go for the long range version from the off (which I assume would be a cheaper option than an aftermarket upgrade anyway). I'd also suggest maybe living closer to your work. Because that's insane.

Otherwise all you're doing is spending several grand for eliminating the inconvenience of a few minutes (literally 2-6 minutes) at a charger and a couple of pence for the few journey's you'll need it.

If aftermarket battery upgrades were going to be a thing, it would be by now. Instead it's a handful of small specialist garages offering it in a quite un-economical way. 99.99% of EVs will be scrapped with the same battery they left the factory with.

 

[i3S]

it would be a cheap upgrade to get a little more range ! compared to get the Tour-version

If it were possible we might have looked at this. We know we don’t need the range now, but if we’d bought rather than leased, I can see a use for it later down the line where those extra kWhs would be useful.

Don’t want to spend the extra on a Tour now though as don’t need the range.

It’d be not much different to the principal of building a modular home that can be adapted to be larger or smaller as life progresses and changes.

I’d buy into flexibility like this at the right price. Potentially make us keep the next car longer.

I don’t understand the negative comments about it from some here tbh.

 

[Alessandro Volta of Como]

Does anyone know is there are 3 empty battery slots in a 9/12 ID.3 OR
is it build at the factory as a "9/9" without empty slots ?


Any thoughts ?

I would say that VW will have zero interest or incentive to do this, they would much prefer to sell you a new car with more range than add to the one you have now. If this happens it will be aftermarket upgraders doing it and tweaking the BMS like these Leaf battery upgrades we are starting to see.

 

[TomH]

I would say that VW will have zero interest or incentive to do this, they would much prefer to sell you a new car with more range than add to the one you have now. If this happens it will be aftermarket upgraders doing it and tweaking the BMS like these Leaf battery upgrades we are starting to see.

There's also the small matter of extending the battery cooling system, don't forget. Few EVs will be as easy to modify as the Leaf is.

 

[MudflatsRichard]

As others have said, I don't think this modification is practicable. Too many other vehicle functions would be affected and the battery management software would need to be re-programmed. Also the battery heating/cooling system would need adapting.
What interests me, however, is in about ten years' time, when my battery is out of warranty and perhaps down to 80% of its original capacity, will I be able to have my dealership swap it out for an upgraded, maybe solid state, battery, with 100kWh capacity and 10 minute charging to 80% at one of the plentiful 350Kw public chargepoints?

 

[Edd Beesley]

will I be able to have my dealership swap it out for an upgraded, maybe solid state, battery, with 100kWh capacity and 10 minute charging to 80% at one of the plentiful 350Kw public chargepoints?

No. Dealerships will not do this.

Prius has been on sale for 24 years, and you cannot go to a Toyota dealer and ask them to swap your Nimh battery for the Li-ion one, never mind the larger Li-ion used in the PHEV, plus the charger, charging port and software. They could do it, and people will have done it in their shed, but they won't, for very sensible reasons of time/labour, culpability, and cannibalised sales.