Electric Car Battery Replacement Costs

Technical Input By: Liz Najman
Written by: Jon Witt

Battery Science

December 3, 2024

This is part of a series on EV batteries and degradation. Here are some resources if you want to go deeper.

• EV battery replacement from start to finish
• How long EV batteries can be expected to last
• What is battery health and battery degradation?
• Why battery prices are falling fast

How much does an EV battery replacement cost?

Electric car battery replacement costs outside of warranty typically range from $5,000 to $16,000, depending on the pack size and manufacturer, but these out-of-pocket repairs are extremely rare.

• If you buy a new EV, you will probably never have to think about battery replacement or even battery maintenance.
• If you buy a used EV, you're probably still in the clear, although it is recommended to check a car's Recurrent Report before purchase.

EV batteries are generally lasting longer than many people expected. While the overall rate of replacement in the Recurrent community is only 2.5%, the highest rate of battery replacements come from the very first generation of EVs on the road. These cars are now 14 years old and many of them still have their original packs.

Newer generations of EVs should have even more robust and resilient battery management systems, allowing the lithium ion packs to outlast the car itself.

Are replacement costs going down?

Yes, battery costs — including replacement packs — are falling quickly. Since the original mass market EVs in 2012, battery prices have fallen from over $400/kWh to  $111/kWh by the end of 2024. That's a massive drop over just 12 years.

As battery prices continue to decline, the price you would pay today is different than the price you would pay next year or in 5 years. For instance, back in 2019, the Mack Institute for Innovation Management at the Wharton School for Business found a 16% decline in battery pack cost between 2007 and 2019, with an estimated cost for of $161/kWh for battery packs. With that estimate, in 2019, the cost of an out-of-warranty 100 kWh battery, as is common in Tesla long range vehicles, would be at least $16,100 before labor, taxes, etc.

Meanwhile, in 2024, Goldman Sachs projected the cost of batteries to hit $111/kWh by the end of the year. That would make the same 100 kWh pack $11,100 — $1,000 cheaper per year!

The $111/kWh is a global average, too. For instance, in early 2024, LFP cells made by CATL and BYD were seen as low as $56/kWh. While the cell price is cheaper than the pack price, and although US prices tend to be 10-12% higher, the news out of China offers a promising glimpse of the battery future.

Just imagine how little an EV battery will cost to replace in 5 years!

Do warranties cover an EV battery replacement?

All new EVs come with separate battery warranty which tends to last at least 8 years or 100,000 miles - longer than the standard body and comprehensive warranty. However, there are many terms and conditions for battery warranties, and there are stories about accidents that damage the battery pack and render the warranty void. In these cases, the driver may be on the hook for replacement costs, or the driver's insurance may pick it up.

Unexpected battery failures would be covered by the manufacturer warranty. Some drivers who drive or want to purchase an older EV may decide to get an extended warranty specifically to cover the battery— Recurrent has several partners who offer extended EV warranties if you are concerned about battery health.

What are some real-world cost examples?

The real-world cost of an electric car battery is more than simply the battery pack. The total price tag would include labor costs, taxes, and other externalities such as shipping.

Here is what I found on the following electric vehicles.

• BMW i3
• Chevrolet Bolt
• Chevrolet Volt
• Hyundai Ioniq PHEV
• Nissan Leaf
• Tesla Model 3
• Tesla Model S
• VW e-Golf

BMW i3 Battery Replacement Cost

• A BMW i3 battery pack with an original 22 kWh of capacity, but with approximately 17.14 kWh of capacity today, is selling for $2,500 on ebay. This equates to roughly $145/kWh.
• In 2016, BMW reported that replacing an i3 battery would cost about $16,000.
• Unfortunately, as the i3 is no longer being produced, the battery replacement prices quoted by BMW have reportedly been in the $33,000+ range.

Chevy Bolt Battery Replacement Cost

• According to a post on chevybolt.org, a dealership quoted a Chevy Bolt owner in November 2018 $16,250 for a battery replacement, with $870 for labor.

Nissan Leaf Battery Replacement Cost

The cost of labor and replacement of a 24 kWh battery in a Nissan Leaf was $5,500.

Tesla Model 3 Battery Replacement Cost

Since Tesla Model 3s are still fairly new, there is limited data on non-warranty repair costs. Based on data we've seen for more recent replacements, the total amount has come down to $10 - $12,000.

Tesla Model S Battery Replacement Cost

In April 2021, FindMyElectric reported that there were a few cases where the price of the batteries cost $12,000 to $15,000.

VW e-Golf Battery Replacement Cost

A replacement battery for a 2017 to 2018 VW e-Golf is quoted as $23,442.91 by Pignataro VW as of August 2021.

Proactive tips to avoid replacement and costly service

It should not be a surprise that treating your battery nicely can expand its life and delay replacement. Here are some tips on how to give your battery the TLC it needs.

• Avoid extreme high or low battery levels.
• Limit DC fast charging to special occasions.
• Small, frequent charges are better than large, infrequent charges.
• Get your battery to room temperature before charging when possible.
• Park in the shade during warm months to keep your battery cooler.
• A/C and heat use a lot of energy so consider preheating your car while it’s plugged in or using seat warmers.
• Accelerate slowly to increase range.
• Avoid excessive highway speeds.
• Check out your manuals battery maintenance tips.
• Swap your tires for more efficient tires; seasonally appropriate.