EV battery packs generally contain a series of connected individual cells, perhaps several hundred of them depending on the model, instead of a single massive unit.Īn electric car’s battery capacity is expressed in terms of kilowatt-hours, which is abbreviated as kWh. They’re also less prone than other battery types to lose their charge when not being used. They’re far different than the heavy lead-acid batteries used in conventional cars and have a higher energy density than rechargeable nickel-metal hydride batteries. The lithium-ion battery packs used in electric cars are similar to those used in cell phones and laptop computers, only they’re much larger. Nissan reports having to swap out only a relative handful of batteries in its Leaf EV, despite selling many thousands of units over the last eight years in production.
At that, we’ve yet to see reports of older battery-driven vehicles headed to the junkyard because their power cells were depleted.
#Electric car battery replacement cost full#
However, while an electric car’s battery pack will eventually lose its ability to hold a full charge, rest assured that it’s not likely to fail altogether, but rather lose its capacity gradually over time. For example, a new battery pack for a Chevrolet Bolt EV is reportedly priced well in excess of $15,000, and that’s not including the cost of labor. To be sure, replacing an electric vehicle’s battery is an expensive proposition. In a recent study conducted by Cox Automotive, 46 percent of those considering an electric car fear the battery pack would only last for 65,000 miles or less. Yet one area of concern that keeps coming up in consumer surveys regards an electric car’s battery life. There are far less moving parts in an electric motor than a gasoline engine, an electric car uses only a single-speed transmission, and EVs avoid over two-dozen common automotive components that will eventually fail and need replacing. In many ways an electric car is mechanically simpler than a conventionally powered vehicle. Fortunately, it should be able to go the distance. It’s the vehicle’s most critical – and expensive – component.
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