Battery and electric vehicle warranty: what do manufacturers offer?
Content
The battery warranty is a very important issue to understand before purchasing an electric vehicle, especially a used electric vehicle. This article introduces various manufacturer's battery warranties and what to do to claim or not get a battery warranty.
Manufacturer's Warranty
Machine warranty
All new vehicles are covered by the manufacturer's warranty, including electric vehicles. This is usually 2 years with unlimited mileage, because this is the minimum legal guarantee in Europe. However, some manufacturers may offer longer journeys, this time with limited mileage.
The manufacturer's warranty covers all mechanical, electrical and electronic parts of the vehicle, as well as textile or plastic parts (except for so-called wear parts such as tires). Thus, electric vehicle owners are insured for all of these items if they suffer from unusual wear and tear or when a structural defect is found. Thus, the cost, including labor, is borne by the manufacturer.
To take advantage of the manufacturer's warranty, motorists must report the problem. If it is a defect resulting from the manufacture or assembly of the vehicle, the problem is covered by the warranty and the manufacturer must carry out the necessary repair / replacement.
The manufacturer's warranty is transferable as it is not attached to the owner, but to the vehicle itself. Therefore, if you are looking to purchase a used electric vehicle, you can still take advantage of the manufacturer's warranty, if it is still valid. Indeed, it will be transferred to you at the same time as the vehicle.
Battery warranty
In addition to the manufacturer's warranty, there is a battery warranty specifically for electric vehicles. Typically, a battery is warranted for 8 years or 160 km at a certain threshold of battery condition. Indeed, the battery warranty is valid if the SoH (health status) falls below a certain percentage: from 000% to 66% depending on the manufacturer.
For example, if your battery is guaranteed to have a SoH threshold of 75%, the manufacturer will only repair or replace if the SoH falls below 75%.
However, these figures are valid for electric vehicles purchased with a battery. When renting a battery, there is no limit for years or kilometers: the warranty is included in the monthly payments and therefore is not limited for a specific SoH. Here again, the percentage of SoH varies between manufacturers and can range from 60% to 75%. If you have a rental battery electric vehicle and its SoH is below the threshold stated in your warranty, the manufacturer must repair or replace your battery free of charge.
Battery warranty according to manufacturer's specifications
Battery warranty on the market
What happens if SOH goes below the warranty threshold?
If your electric vehicle's battery is still under warranty and its SoH falls below the warranty threshold, the manufacturers commit to repair or replace the battery. If you have chosen a rented battery, the manufacturer will always take care of the battery-related problems for free.
If your battery is no longer under warranty, for example when your vehicle is over 8 years old or 160 km, this repair will be charged. Knowing that it costs between € 000 and € 7 to replace the battery, it’s up to you to decide which solution is the most beneficial.
Some manufacturers may also offer to reprogram your battery's BMS. The Battery Management System (BMS) is software that helps prevent battery degradation and extend battery life. When the battery is low, the BMS can be reprogrammed i.e. it is reset based on the current state of the battery. Reprogramming the BMS allows the buffer capacity of the battery to be used.
Check the condition of the battery before making a warranty claim.
At your office
During the annual checks, which are also mandatory for electric vehicles, your dealer checks the battery. An electric vehicle overhaul is generally cheaper than its heat engine counterpart as fewer parts are required to check. Consider less than € 100 for a classic overhaul and between € 200 and € 250 for a major overhaul.
If after servicing a problem is found with your battery, the manufacturer will replace or repair it. Depending on whether you bought your electric vehicle with the battery included or rented the battery, and if it is under warranty, repairs will be paid or free.
In addition, most manufacturers offer to check the battery of your electric vehicle by providing you with a document confirming its condition.
Some mobile apps, if you know about it
For connoisseurs of motorists who have a certain technical appetite, you can use your own OBD2 block with dedicated apps to analyze your electric vehicle data and thus determine the battery condition.
There is an application LeafSpy Pro for Nissan Leaf, which allows, among other things, to know about the wear and tear of the battery, as well as the number of quick charges performed over the life of the vehicle.
There is an application SONGS for Renault electric vehicles, which also lets you know the SoH of the battery.
Finally, the Torque app allows battery diagnostics on specific electric vehicle models from different manufacturers.
To use these applications, you will need a dongle, a hardware component that plugs into the vehicle's OBD socket. This works via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi on your smartphone and will therefore allow you to transfer data from your car to the app. Thus, you will receive information about the state of your battery. However, be careful, there are many OBDII devices on the market and not all mobile apps mentioned above are compatible with all devices. So make sure the box is compatible with your car, your app, and your smartphone (for example, some boxes work on iOS but not Android).
La Belle Batterie: a certificate to help you apply your battery warranty
At La Belle Batterie we offer certificate a certificate of serviceability of the electric vehicle battery. This battery certification includes SoH (health status), maximum autonomy when fully charged, and the number of BMS reprograms or remaining buffer capacity for certain models.
If you have an EV, you can diagnose your battery from home in just 5 minutes. All you have to do is buy our certificate online and download the La Belle Batterie app. You will then receive a kit including an OBDII box and a detailed battery self-diagnosis guide. Our technical team is also at your disposal to assist you over the phone in the event of a problem.
Knowing the SoH of your battery will help you know if it has dropped below the warranty threshold. This will make it easier to use your battery warranty. In addition, in some cases, even if the certificate is not officially recognized by the manufacturers, it can help you support your request by showing that you have mastered the subject and know the real state of your battery.
