Performance is not really an issue in electric cars, but you can always ask for more.
Volkswagen UK has started offering buyers of the compact electric ID.3 the option to upgrade its power via a software update, for a monthly or annual fee.
The ID.3, which arrived in Israel only through parallel import, is sold in the UK with an engine producing 204 HP. The subscription plan offers an additional 27 HP, bringing the total to 231 HP.
The price: £16.50 per month (NIS 76) or £165 per year (NIS 760). A one-time payment of £649 (NIS 2,979) is also an option.
Volkswagen did not specify how much the power increase will improve performance, but claimed it will not affect the driving range.
Volkswagen is not the first car manufacturer to offer such an upgrade for electric vehicles. Mercedes, BMW, and Polestar offer additional power for a fee in some markets, while Tesla regularly sells feature and equipment upgrades, including even activating seat electrification options.
In Israel, no manufacturer currently offers a similar upgrade due to a dispute with the Tax Authority. The authority considers such an upgrade a purchase subject to tax like spare parts, whereas Tesla—the only company that examined the matter in Israel—required only VAT to be paid.
The power increase will also require updating insurance companies, which will likely raise the car insurance premium, citing added risk due to improved performance. This is despite the fact that such an upgrade also improves safety, for example by shortening overtaking times.