[aManCalledSloan]

Nothing new revealed in this story. The software definitely needs to evolve faster.

Porsche Boss Faces Software Woes Keeping VW a Step Behind Tesla

Herbert Diess tried to match the electric-car maker’s tech prowess. New CEO Oliver Blume now has more chasing to do.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[epl]

From the article

For the time being, some 200,000 ID drivers are having to book drop-offs at dealerships for a hardware fix that will enable over-the-air updates to their infotainment and battery-management systems. VW needs to replace the 12-volt battery that acts as a secondary power source to the lithium-ion pack underneath the vehicle. There’s risk the current one doesn’t have enough juice to see through software downloads lasting several hours

.

 

[epl]

“The saving grace is Apple CarPlay,” Holleran said. “If it didn’t have that, to be honest, I would get rid of the car and I would go with a Tesla.”

Maybe VW will be the first company to align with the extended role that Apple wants CarPlay to take? It could be a win-win for both parties.

 

[ID4LIVE]

Maybe VW will be the first company to align with the extended role that Apple wants CarPlay to take? It could be a win-win for both parties.

Nod,The car screen can be used as an extension of the smart phone.

 

[Eric Nay]

There are a lot of ways out of the forest. They just need to pick a path and start executing.

(I meant executing the plan, not executing the programmers)

 

[Nai3t]

I think this article is guilty of conflating two software issues. The big picture software is what VW references, but the examples given are "little software" with respect to our system version, bugs, and inability to update. Two different things.

But I'm happy for the attention, even if it's misguided. I don't expect it's going to speed anything up, but perhaps will nudge VW to communicate.

 

[Nadrealista]

From the article

.

that is just silly, software download is not energy intensive in the first place, even if it was they could top off the small battery from the main battery during the updates or any time it falls below designated threshold. I mean our 22 VW Atlas has over the air updates so I am really puzzled why ID4 does not?

 

[Huey52]

I'd still Much rather have a Porsche.

 

[Nai3t]

that is just silly, software download is not energy intensive in the first place, even if it was they could top off the small battery from the main battery during the updates or any time it falls below designated threshold.

Agreed, I don't believe Bloomberg has a good source for this article. They've been surfing too many ID.4 forums!

The 12 volt battery replacement is in response to day-to-day use and abuse (potentially including pulling down software updates), and is not a problem exclusive to the OTA process

 

[ap2us]

Agreed, I don't believe Bloomberg has a good source for this article. They've been surfing too many ID.4 forums!

The 12 volt battery replacement is in response to day-to-day use and abuse (potentially including pulling down software updates), and is not a problem exclusive to the OTA process

I remember reading that the id4 has a lot of independent controllers, which all have their own firmware. I think most people only think about the update of the infotainment software. But VW seems to be working on something that is similar to updating all phones, tablets, watches, Kindles, PCs, laptops, WIFI routers, printers, smart light bulbs, robo vacuum, headphones etc. in your household all at once with the added complexity that nothing works anymore if it's not done in the right sequence or any update fails. I would imagine that their are many power cycles and checks involved, which draws a lot from the 12v battery.

 

[Nai3t]

I remember reading that the id4 has a lot of independent controllers, which all have their own firmware. I think most people only think about the update of the infotainment software. But VW seems to be working on something that is similar to updating all phones, tablets, watches, Kindles, PCs, laptops, WIFI routers, printers, smart light bulbs, robo vacuum, headphones etc. in your household all at once with the added complexity that nothing works anymore if it's not done in the right sequence or any update fails. I would imagine that their are many power cycles and checks involved, which draws a lot from the 12v battery.

I don't expect the 12 volt battery is relied on as an isolated power source for much of the update. The car is reliant on the 12 volt for reboots / system startup, but especially under a scenario like the update process, I can't imagine the HV isn't in play to backstop it.

The 12 volt gets run down day to day just powering the system that runs the telematics. Throw in long durations between drives, temperature highs and lows, and it's not difficult to see why failed 12 volts have left some owners stranded. A lead acid battery isn't optional for this sort of use case.

Take that already marginal battery into the update process, and sure, that's a recipe for problems, but it wouldn't have been the update that killed the battery, it would have been its sorry state leading up to the first software download.

 

[agzand]

Seeing how they cannot get a simple iOS app (2008 technology) working properly, I don't have high hopes for future of VW as a software company. I think they will fold an outsource the software again.

 

[ap2us]

I don't expect the 12 volt battery is relied on as an isolated power source for much of the update. The car is reliant on the 12 volt for reboots / system startup, but especially under a scenario like the update process, I can't imagine the HV isn't in play to backstop it.

The 12 volt gets run down day to day just powering the system that runs the telematics. Throw in long durations between drives, temperature highs and lows, and it's not difficult to see why failed 12 volts have left some owners stranded. A lead acid battery isn't optional for this sort of use case.

Take that already marginal battery into the update process, and sure, that's a recipe for problems, but it wouldn't have been the update that killed the battery, it would have been its sorry state leading up to the first software download.

You are absolutely right. They have to account for 12v batteries that are in bad shape. I have no insight into the inner workings, but I guess if they update controllers that are related to the hv battery management and charging, they might have to go through a few update steps without any chance to recharge the 12v from the hv battery.

 

[Froggy]

There are a lot of ways out of the forest. They just need to pick a path and start executing.

(I meant executing the plan, not executing the programmers)

I don't know....a bonus for the best programer and an axe for the worst every Friday might do wonders?

 

[ap2us]

Seeing how they cannot get a simple iOS app (2008 technology) working properly, I don't have high hopes for future of VW as a software company. I think they will fold an outsource the software again.

As far as I know that app is not developed by VW. Not an excuse. Just shows that outsourcing doesn't help in all cases

 

[EyeDeeFore]

I'm annoyed that these issues have delayed the Macan EV for a year already. But beyond that, I LOLOLOL'ed the entire time because I sold my ID.4 AWD Pro S in March after 4 months of ownership witnessing enough this dumpster fire management at VW Group. Run away! You deserve better!

 

[carvellwakeman]

I don't know....a bonus for the best programer and an axe for the worst every Friday might do wonders?

I know this is in jest, but people like to imagine software companies is just 100 developers all typing as fast as possible.

Most of the devs don't make decisions about the system, that is the role of Product Owner and management.
I truly worry for any company that relies on devs to make design and feature decisions but also implement those systems, because that's having one person do two jobs.

I've worked with lots of crappy devs, but most of them could still read a well made of set of requirements (which played a role in a larger feature), and implement something that technically works, albeit buggy and unmaintainable. But you get one bad product owner or manager on a power trip, and your dev team spends 6 months re-engineering a legacy system to do something it's not capable of doing and here we are

 

[Dougie01]

I'd still Much rather have a Porsche.

Me, too. And the Porsches I like don't have software to start with. Maybe they are as advanced as to have automatic chokes. Or maybe not even any choke at all.

 

[Don]

Me, too. And the Porsches I like don't have software to start with. Maybe they are as advanced as to have automatic chokes. Or maybe not even any choke at all.

. . . . but, they do have a turbo and an intercooler . . . . oh, and a wastegate too!

 

[Eric Nay]

What about a Turbo Encabulator? lol