How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Battery In An Electric Car

Just like every other thing on the market, car batteries also tend to degrade with time. Whether you drive an electric vehicle or a normal traditional one, car batteries tend to undergo usage and eventually become non-usable. 

Car batteries normally degrade because of a process called “calendar aging.” Just like the human age, car batteries also age. There’s a baseline of decline that a car battery reaches when it is constantly used. The more it gets used, the more it gets exposed to aging.

Are you a proud owner of an EV and you're experiencing battery degradation yourself? If your answer is yes, then here's a complete article which we have covered just for you.

The essence of this article is to make sure you purchase & replace an EV battery. So without further ado, let's dig into the details and start with the exploration.

How Much Does An EV Battery Cost For Replacement?

When we talk about EV battery replacement, the charges for the replacement can go as much as up to $20,000 depending on the type of electric vehicle you drive. There are several important factors which will be discussed below that play a pivotal role in deciding the final cost.

Type Of Car

The first thing which is going to have an impact on the pricing is the type of car you own. There are different types of cars & each one of them has a different set of features. The feature set is going to have a direct impact on the amount you'll be spending.

The thing with car batteries is that they are designed in a way to perfectly fit the make & model of your car. This means that if you own an electric Tesla, the company is going to provide you with a replacement which is specifically designed for your car. The same goes for other car companies as well.

When you purchase a car, the company provides you with a warranty for the battery as well. This means that if your battery degrades & needs to be replaced within the warranty time frame, the company will replace it without charging you a single dime.

However, once the warranty expires, you'll be required to pay the replacement charges from your own pocket.

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Capacity Of Battery

The second important factor which comes into play when deciding the cost of replacement is the capacity of your battery. The capacity is going to have a direct impact on the amount you'll be spending.

As you might know, the capacity of batteries is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The storage capacity of batteries has been constantly increasing with time.

The 1st generation EVs used to have a storage capacity of around 24 kWh. However, with the latest EVs on the market, the storage capacity can increase as much as up to 100 kWh. If you own an older EV, the replacement battery gets significantly cheaper as compared to someone who owns the latest EV make or model.

Number Of Batteries

The third factor which is going to have an impact on the cost is the number of batteries you'll be required to replace.

As you might be aware, some of the latest EVs come with multiple batteries. This is done to increase the range of the vehicle. If you need to replace multiple batteries, the cost is going to be significantly higher as compared to replacing a single battery.

Warranty

The fourth & final factor which you need to take into account is the warranty provided by the company. As we mentioned earlier, all car companies provide a warranty on the battery.

The warranty period is different for different companies. For example, Tesla provides an 8-year warranty on its batteries. This means that if your battery degrades within 8 years, the company will replace it free of cost.

However, once the warranty expires, you'll be required to pay the entire replacement cost out of your own pocket.

How Much Does A Tesla Car Battery Replacement Cost?

On average,  a Tesla car battery replacement costs around $15,000 to $20,000. The cost will vary depending on the year & model of your Tesla car.

If you own a Tesla Model S, the battery replacement cost can be as high as $19,900. On the other hand, if you own a Tesla Model 3, the cost of replacement will be significantly lower at around $7,000.

The thing you need to keep in mind is that the cost of replacement will increase with time. This is because the technology is constantly improving & the latest EVs come with larger & more powerful batteries.

How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Battery In Other Cars?

The cost of replacing a car battery in other cars is going to be significantly lower as compared to Tesla.

On average, you'll be spending around $100 to $300 to replace the battery in other cars. The cost will again vary depending on the make, model & year of your car.

READ: How Much Does It Cost To Convert A Vehicle To Electric In 2022

How Often Do Electric Vehicle Batteries Require Replacement?

The frequency of replacement is going to depend on a number of factors such as how you use your car, the climate conditions & the number of miles you've driven. On average, electric vehicle batteries can last anywhere between 4 to 8 years.

However, if you live in a hot climate & tend to use your AC frequently, the battery is going to degrade faster. Similarly, if you frequently drive long distances, the battery is also going to degrade faster.

Conclusion

The cost of replacing a car battery can vary significantly depending on a number of factors. Some of the important factors include the make & model of your car, the capacity of the battery, the number of batteries & the warranty period.

On average, you'll be spending somewhere around $5,000 to $20,000 to replace an electric vehicle battery whereas a normal car battery will cost around $100 to $300.