Another in a long line of examples of the shortcomings and additional costs associated with owning electric vehicles came out when a man came to the realization that he would have to pay $20,000 for a replacement battery on his hybrid vehicle. That steep price tag is just one in a long line of costly side effects of EVs, both for the car owner and for manufacturers all across the industry.
An Arizona car owner was the one surprised this time as the hefty price tag was quoted to him for his 2014 Infinity hybrid after a check engine light alerted him to a possible issue that needed attention. He took the vehicle to the dealership to get a diagnostic done and was dismayed to find out the issue and the cost of fixing the problem.
Lucas Turner, the owner of the Infinity, was taken aback when he heard that he would owe the dealership $20,000 to fix the car. He said, “They told me that I need a new hybrid battery and it’s going to cost $18,000 for the battery and another $2,000 to have it installed.”
The price to fix that battery is steep no matter how you chop it up, but the bill becomes even more shocking when we learn that Turner paid just $16,000 for the car when he first purchased it. Now, he was being asked to pay more than it was worth to get a battery fix. His vehicle was effectively totaled after just one part malfunctioned.
Turner, feeling the same confusion at the situation, said, “My jaw dropped with them wanting $20,000 just for a battery. It makes no sense in my mind.” That steep price is enough to make any car owner’s jaw drop. However, some analysts say that battery replacements can be cheaper at third-party shops.
One such expert is Karl Brauer, who said, “There’s no doubt in my mind that [Turner] could find a less expensive battery from another source.” He also added, “It’s not uncommon for these batteries to last 15-plus years and more than 150,000 miles.”
Brauer’s advice to buyers of EVs and hybrids is the following. “That should be part of the pre-purchase inspection, which you should always do when you’re buying a used car. Checking the battery is the first step. They should use that as a negotiation point and research potential replacement costs.”
Now, Turner is in between a rock and a hard place. He either forks over the hefty bill to fix the battery, or he is simply left without a vehicle. According to him, the car still woks for now, but with the faulty part, there is no telling if that is a safe decision or if the engine can be relied upon to carry the brunt of the driving load long-term.
This is one of the many conundrums being faced nationwide by owners of the popular new EVs and hybrids that are being touted as the cars of the future. While the technology is impressive and futuristic, logistical issues have plagued the industry since its rise to popularity just a couple of years ago.
