Volkswagen is adding a suite of new features to all its fully electric ID. models to enhance user experience and optimise charging capacity.
Known simply as Software 3.0, Volkswagen is taking the next step towards becoming a software-oriented mobility provider with its ACCELERATE strategy.
Buyers of new cars will get the updated software straight away.
For cars that have already been delivered, VW said it will provide “many of the optimisations of ID. Software 3.0 free of charge via an over-the-air update as of Q2”.
In VW’s latest step towards automated driving, a new ‘Travel Assist with Swarm Data’ feature allows assisted lane changing.
With two radars at the rear and using ultrasound, the function can keep an eye on the surrounding traffic and, at speeds of 90km/h or more on motorways, also actively support lane changes if desired.
If activated, the lane change can be carried out by indicating. The prerequisite for this is that the sensors have not detected any objects in the surrounding area and the capacitive steering wheel can sense the driver’s hands. The vehicle will then steer itself into the desired lane. The driver can intervene at any time and take control of the manoeuvre.
Another new feature for the ID. family is the optional ‘Park Assist Plus with Memory Function’. Here the vehicle can be taught up to five different parking manoeuvres. Drivers just have to park once and save the parking manoeuvre and the vehicle will repeat the learned manoeuvre autonomously.
ID. Software 3.0 brings new updates to the displays and infotainment system. The ‘augmented reality head-up display’, which projects information on the windscreen, now includes additional displays in the long-distance zone. Besides the assisted lane change function, it also displays new roundabout symbols and information on the distance to a destination.
Further updates include enhancements to the voice control technology. Voice commands are now recognised much faster and more precisely, according to VW.
From a charging standpoint, models with the 77kWh battery can now charge at a maximum of 135kW instead of 125kW.
Finally, the e-route planner has gotten smarter. The online route calculator in the navigation system can create a multi-stop route, which gets you to your destination as quickly as possible. It takes traffic and route data into account, as well as the desired SOC upon arrival at the final destination and interim destination. The charging stops are evaluated dynamically and are based on the output of the charging stations. As a result, the route planning may suggest two short charging processes with high power instead of a single long process with low power.
“We are taking our products to a new level of functionality because we are working faster, are more connected and are more customer-oriented,” said Thomas Ulbrich, member of the board of management of Volkswagen.
“Again, we are living up to our claim of offering high-quality technologies and innovations in all classes.”