Auto Club ACE – When Does a Weak E-Car Battery Become a Warranty Case?

A drop in range does not always mean a defect. The range of an electric car depends on various factors and can fluctuate temporarily. It is influenced, for example, by energy consumption in the car, driving behavior, and temperature. It is also normal for battery capacity not to remain at new car levels long-term, even under ideal conditions. Just like with a smartphone or a laptop, the drive battery of an electric car loses some of its performance over time. The permanent yet normal loss of battery capacity is caused on one hand by charging and discharging. Especially in the first year, battery health often suffers somewhat more than in the following years.

On the other hand, wear and tear also occurs through mere aging – even if the car is hardly driven or not driven at all. If the range decreases permanently below 70 or 80 percent compared to the time of delivery – depending on the model and warranty conditions – the battery may be covered under warranty.

Warranty conditions must be observed

Electric car owners should be thoroughly familiar with the warranty conditions, recommends the ACE. When purchasing a new vehicle, buyers should obtain all documents related to the warranty and read them carefully. Some manufacturers deviate from the usual eight-year warranty period and only offer five or even three years of warranty on the battery, but ten years, 250,000 kilometers or more are possible. However, the voluntary performance of the manufacturer is often bound to rigorous requirements, which can easily be violated in everyday life. If instructions from the user manual are not followed, the warranty may become void, and modifications to the vehicle can also void the warranty. Usually, the warranty conditions concern the charging behavior. This means that: Those who do not charge as specified by the manufacturer risk warranty restrictions. The manufacturer may, for example, specify how often quick-charging stations can be used.

Precautionary Documentation Helps in Case of Warranty Claims

To be well-prepared in the event of a warranty claim, it is best to also save statements in advertising brochures or screenshots of advertisements. Prospective buyers should also document the seller's promises in writing and have them confirmed with a signature. In the case of buying a used car, the classic, vehicle-bound manufacturer's warranty is transferred to the new buyer. But even if the warranty is still valid according to the warranty period and mileage – it is difficult to ascertain whether all the manufacturer's warranty conditions were adhered to by the previous owner.

Although a well-maintained service book and a reasonably high remaining capacity of the battery may indicate this, the previous charging behavior, for example, remains unclear. To mitigate the risk of being stuck with the costs in the event of battery damage, the ACE recommends closely examining the manufacturer's warranty conditions. It is best to have the car seller precisely confirm that all of the manufacturer's warranty conditions have been complied with.