Is it normal for BYD batteries to degrade without needing replacement?
4 Answers
Replacement is necessary. The standard for BYD battery replacement due to degradation is as follows: If the battery capacity falls below 66% of the standard capacity, a new battery can be directly replaced. Below is an extended introduction: 1. Conditions for battery replacement: The core components of BYD new energy vehicles come with an 8-year or 150,000-kilometer warranty, while the battery cells are covered by a lifetime warranty. As long as the battery capacity drops below 66% of the standard capacity, a new battery can be directly replaced. 2. Introduction to the battery: The term "battery cell" is used instead of "battery" because a battery pack consists of multiple components such as the casing, wiring, power management system, cooling system, and battery cells. The battery cells are responsible for energy storage, while the other components are auxiliary. Other auxiliary components fall under the vehicle's three-guarantee policy. As long as the battery pack has not been manually disassembled, the entire battery will be replaced. After the warranty period expires, the battery cells can be replaced for free, but the costs associated with replacing the battery cells, including the repackaging of the battery pack, replacement of circuits and circuit boards, and labor costs, are borne by the user.
I've been driving a BYD Han for three years and feel the battery is like a smartphone battery—normal degradation doesn't warrant an urgent replacement. Developing good habits is crucial, such as avoiding frequent discharges below 10% before recharging, as that accelerates battery aging. Also, minimize the use of fast charging, as it harms the battery more than slow charging. When parked, try to avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, as high temperatures significantly damage lithium batteries. Currently, my car's range has dropped from 600 km to around 560 km, which is still perfectly sufficient for daily use, making a battery replacement an unnecessary expense. Battery lifespan is closely tied to usage frequency—weekly drives versus daily long-distance trips will result in different wear levels, but both fall within the normal degradation range covered by the warranty. BYD's after-sales service has professional equipment for testing. If you encounter abnormal rapid power loss, the dealership will handle it free of charge.
As a tech enthusiast, I've researched BYD's batteries, and normal degradation is actually a natural phenomenon caused by reduced lithium-ion activity. Their blade battery design is indeed durable, slowing down the degradation rate through a multi-layer protective structure. As long as you follow basic maintenance principles—keeping the charge level between 20% and 80%, avoiding deep discharges, and performing regular battery balancing—it can generally last beyond the eight-year warranty period. My friend's car, after five years, experienced a 13% range loss, which was confirmed by after-sales inspection as normal wear. The warranty terms have clear thresholds for degradation assessment, typically requiring capacity to drop below 70% before a replacement is offered. The biggest concern is over-maintenance—some people obsess over charge levels daily, which can lead to unnecessary anxiety. If you're really unsure, you can visit a 4S store quarterly for a battery health check.
I'm quite practical, and the economic calculation makes it clear. Replacing a new battery set costs at least 40,000 yuan, but even with normal degradation leaving only 80% of the range, it's still sufficient for five to six years based on a daily commute of 50 kilometers. Genuine replacement needs are rare unless you frequently use DC fast chargers and often take long trips. BYD's after-sales service is quite standardized—they can measure the actual capacity in just five minutes with a diagnostic tool, and if it's below 70%, they replace it for free without hesitation. Once, my car suffered water damage in the garage, causing a single cell to fail, and since the issue wasn’t due to normal degradation, it was directly covered by insurance. I recommend paying attention to usage scenarios—frequent mountain driving can wear the battery faster than city commuting, but it remains within manageable limits.
