How Often Should New Energy Vehicle Batteries Be Replaced?

[DeJeremiah]

There is no mandatory regulation on the service life of new energy vehicle batteries, as it depends on the consumer's usage conditions: The charge-discharge cycle life is an important parameter for measuring the performance of secondary batteries. One complete charge and discharge is called one cycle (or one period). Under a certain charge-discharge system, the number of charge-discharge cycles a battery can endure before its capacity drops to a specified value is called the charge-discharge cycle life of the secondary battery. The longer the charge-discharge cycle life, the better the battery's performance. Among the commonly used secondary batteries today, nickel-cadmium batteries have a charge-discharge cycle life of 500-800 cycles, lead-acid batteries 200-500 cycles, lithium-ion batteries 600-1000 cycles, and zinc-silver batteries the shortest, around 100 cycles. Wet shelf life is another important parameter for measuring the performance of secondary batteries: It refers to the time from when the battery is filled with electrolyte to the end of its charge-discharge cycle life (including the time the battery is in a discharged state during the charge-discharge cycle). The longer the wet shelf life, the better the battery's performance. Among the commonly used batteries today, nickel-cadmium batteries have a wet shelf life of 2-3 years, lead-acid batteries 3-5 years, lithium-ion batteries 5-8 years, and zinc-silver batteries the shortest, only about 1 year.

[OBrody]

I've been driving a new energy vehicle for five years now, always using the original battery. Based on the manual and my actual experience, generally after 8 to 10 years you may need to inspect or replace it, depending on your usage habits and maintenance. If you frequently deep discharge, use fast charging, or park in extremely high temperatures, the battery lifespan will shorten faster. Remember to regularly visit the 4S shop for a battery health check, and it's best to keep the charge between 20% and 80% to extend its service life. Among my friends, some have driven for 10 years without replacing it, but once the range drops below 70%, it may affect daily use. The replacement cost is significant, possibly tens of thousands, but if you don't plan to change cars, budget accordingly. Battery technology is advancing quickly now, so prices might drop in a few years. Driving smoothly makes battery management easier.

[LawsonMarie]

As someone frequently involved in car maintenance, battery lifespan primarily depends on cycle count. Typically, lithium-ion batteries experience capacity degradation below 80% after 1,000 to 1,500 full charge cycles, at which point replacement may be necessary. For daily use, shallow charging and discharging (avoid depleting the battery too low before recharging) is better than deep discharging, as it causes less damage to the battery. Temperature is critical—avoid parking under direct sunlight in summer and store in an indoor garage during winter. I've seen cases where batteries develop issues within 6-8 years, mostly due to owners overusing fast charging. Warranties typically cover 8 years or 100,000 miles, during which manufacturers may offer free repairs or replacements if capacity drops below a critical threshold, but don't expect them to last a lifetime. Replacement costs are high, but batteries can be recycled and regenerated, conserving resources. It's advisable to use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) chargers and conduct professional annual inspections to detect potential issues early.

[AmaraLynn]

I just bought an electric car recently and have been wondering how long the battery will last. I looked it up online and found that, like a smartphone battery, it normally degrades over 7 to 10 years, but it depends on driving habits. The manual mentions an 8-year warranty, so that's reassuring. Usually, avoid frequent hard acceleration or braking, as high power consumption wears out the battery faster. When charging, avoid deep discharge—it's best not to let it drop below 20% or charge to full. In extreme temperatures, battery performance drops quickly. I discussed it with a friend who's driven his for three years without issues, but he suggested developing good habits in the first few years. The cost is indeed high—replacing it can cost tens of thousands—but with proper maintenance, you can stretch it to 10 years before replacement. Don't worry too much; as a beginner, just focus on proper upkeep.