- Skoda's software 3.9 update adds manual battery preheating to Enyaqs built through the end of 2023.
- Drivers can activate heating below 20°C, with Skoda recommending activation around 45 minutes before fast charging.
- New Zealand availability remains unconfirmed, while installation requirements depend on each car's existing software version.
Skoda is adding manual battery preheating to earlier Enyaqs through a software update, allowing drivers to warm the battery before a DC charging stop.
The software 3.9 update covers cars built from the start of Enyaq production through to the end of 2023. Skoda says around 200,000 vehicles are included in the rollout, with initial waves planned for calendar weeks 47 and 49 and further waves to follow.
New Zealand availability of the preheating update has not been confirmed. Skoda's global rollout announcement does not establish when local owners will receive it.
A button before the charging stop
The new function is operated manually through the car's display. Its button becomes active when the battery temperature is below 20°C, and Skoda identifies roughly 25°C as the optimal battery temperature for charging.
Warming the battery takes around 30–40 minutes, depending on conditions. Skoda recommends switching the function on about 45 minutes before reaching a DC charger, ideally while driving. The car must be switched on for preheating to work.
The function is intended to prepare the battery for DC charging; Skoda says it is unnecessary for AC charging. Drivers of these earlier cars will need to choose when to activate it. Software 3.9 does not bring the navigation-triggered automatic preheating available in newer Enyaqs running software 4.x.
The installation depends on the car
Cars already running software 3.8 will automatically be offered the update. Installation from that version happens in two stages, first preparing the vehicle and then adding the new function.
Enyaqs on an earlier 3.x version need the online update to 3.8 first. Vehicles still running software 2.x require a visit to an authorised service centre before they can progress to 3.8.
The update also includes security changes and fixes for the online communication unit. It removes the requirement to confirm the welcome screen each time the car starts.
