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Hyundai's EV Battery That Lasts a Lifetime

Hyundai provides lasting peace of mind in its electric vehicles and hybrids with an offering not provided by other EV manufacturers: a lifetime battery warranty. This warranty is provided to the original owner with some restrictions.
Hyundai Kona EV

The battery of an electric car is the most expensive component. The battery of a hybrid vehicle may or may not be the most expensive component of the car. The battery of an electric vehicle is the most expensive component of the car and car run upwards of $15,000 to $20,000 dollars after the manufacturers battery warranty has expired.

Lifetime Battery is a Lasting Peace of Mind

Tesla owners routinely charge their cars at varying states of daily use less than a full state of charge in attempts to lengthen battery life (you’ll even get a notice if the battery was charged too many times to a full (SOC) state of charge. In contrast, Kona electric drivers will simply just plug their car in and charge without any worry of future battery life. The Lifetime battery warranty is only for the original sale owner meaning the Kona electric could lose value in trade or secondary sale just like any other EV. Hyundai, knows their battery will last a long time, possibly 20 years. They also know many owners will trade their Kona electric in not taking advantage of the lifetime warranty.

Potential Savings

The environmental and cost conscience owners who keep the Kona electric in the family for 10+ years will accumulate $20,000 plus in vehicle savings. Savings to the wallet and the environment. Savings on fuel, oil, exhaust components, sensors, emissions, transmission fluid changes, spark plugs, turbo chargers, fuel injectors, fuel system, fuel tank, radiators, transaxel fluid changes, emissions testing just like all electric vehicles. Then also savings on the largest possible electrical vehicle expense battery replacement.

Wider EV adoption

The Hyundai’s lifetime battery replacement can allow for further EV adoption as in the past potential buyers may have strayed from EVs due to the thought of battery replacement. Selling a car with a major cost component with a life time warranty is similar to selling an Internal combustion vehicle with free lifetime transmission warranty. Hyundai may not have any trouble selling the Kona EV, but if they do they should widely advertise the Lifetime battery boast no other manufacturer comes close.

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Comments

kent beuchert (not verified)    February 16, 2019 - 1:16PM

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Why doesn't greedy Tesla Motors give anyone a decent battery warranty? Spend $100,000 for a Model S and still no decent warranty.

Paul Garrett (not verified)    May 7, 2019 - 10:20AM

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Hyundai only pays out for total battery failure. U get a new battery from Tesla for total battery failure also. Tesla has been producing there own batteries for seven years. Hyundai gets their batteries from another supplier. As with any car company, they only offer the warranty because it will cost them nothing. It is PR. We will soon see how well Hyundai batteries last if they ever produce them in any kind of numbers. Tesla sells their cars at the market rate. Apparently u think they should forget profit. If this is incorrect, explain what u mean by “greedy”.

P C Castle (not verified)    April 12, 2023 - 11:11AM

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"...they should forget profit"--that's argumentum ad extremum. He wasn't saying they should forget, or forgo, profit. He was suggesting they should move their profit line toward a better outcome for the consumer--one which Hyundai has already realized costs them almost nothing by providing lifetime EV battery replacement to the original owner, as they will almost never have to pay out. But IF things went south, the owner would be greatly comforted.

Gary Andersen (not verified)    March 17, 2019 - 2:48AM

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Hi Damien Ludwick, I had called 2 dealers in Canada and the USA, none of them know anything about the unlimited warranty to original owner of the traction battery, can you confirm how to find out, besides dealers and their online warranty info which only supports 8 yrs or 100000 miles) Thanks, Gary

karma (not verified)    April 15, 2019 - 1:32AM

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This means nothing. What if I lose 20% capacity and range in 5 years? Do I get a new battery? The warranty doesn't spell out what happens with less than a complete failure and dealers are clueless.

Paul Garrett (not verified)    May 7, 2019 - 10:23AM

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The battery does not last a lifetime. Hyundai has a lifetime warranty, not a lifetime battery. Only a simple minded person would confuse the two. They know the battery will never completely fail, it will just become capable of less range.

Christopher K Howe (not verified)    August 17, 2019 - 12:48PM

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It should be noted that using the Kona EV for commercial purposes (i.e. Uber, Turo, etc) also voids the battery warranty.

Jared (not verified)    June 3, 2021 - 6:09PM

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I called Hyundai Motor Company headquarters as my local dealership didn't have all the answers. The Hyundai warranty is a lifetime unlimited mile warranty for the original registered owner. They confirmed that if the battery goes out 20 years later with 600,000 miles on the car, they will replace the battery for free, including cost of disposal for the old battery.

Govan (not verified)    August 26, 2019 - 8:13PM

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I can find nothing online with respect to anticipated battery life loss over 10 years. Hyundai surely has this data given the R&D that would have gone into the battery. There is no lifetime warranty in Canada due to a lack of population density vs the US. Unable to find thencost too replace the battery when the time comes. Savings are questionable when you really crunch the numbers. Environmentally....we shall see. What’s the environmental impact of producing the battery as well as the impact of disposal and recycling?? What’s the environmental impact of generating the electricity to charge all the vehicles in the future? A lot of questions not being answered by the manufacturer.

Shar (not verified)    July 2, 2021 - 4:52PM

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Kona EV owner here. I can clarify this a bit. There is a VERY low/quiet ‘humming’ that I would compare as a more ‘futuristic’ and much much quieter version of the subtle hum of a Nissan. It’s actually very cool and I only noticed it for about the first month. I do notice that people look when we pass through parking lots like, “Ohhhh that’s neat, what is it?”. I frequently do drive right up behind people walking down the street (morning walkers, etc.) who aren’t wearing headphones and can still not hear my car approaching behind them, so it’s definitely not loud at all. I hope this helps!

Michael (not verified)    July 24, 2022 - 10:41PM

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I have a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug In Hybrid. The battery needed to be replaced. My car has been at the dealer since Jan. 2022, I have a loaner.
In the last few weeks I was informed by Hyundai corporate that they cannot
replace the Plug In Hybrid Battery because "it is no longer being made."

What is the value of issuing a Lifetime Hybrid Battery Warranty if one doesn't intend on being able to honor that warranty? I am beyond being flabbergasted.

They want to make a "biuy back" offer. I don't want to have to buy another car in this horrible current car market. Has anyone else had this experience? Do I believe the people from Corporate?

Michael A. (not verified)    July 24, 2022 - 10:43PM

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I have a 2017 Hyundai Sonata Plug In Hybrid. The battery needed to be replaced. My car has been at the dealer since Jan. 2022, I have a loaner.
In the last few weeks I was informed by Hyundai corporate that they cannot
replace the Plug In Hybrid Battery because "it is no longer being made."

What is the value of issuing a Lifetime Hybrid Battery Warranty if one doesn't intend on being able to honor that warranty? I am beyond being flabbergasted.

They want to make a "biuy back" offer. I don't want to have to buy another car in this horrible current car market. Has anyone else had this experience? Do I believe the people from Corporate?

CndnDude (not verified)    April 1, 2023 - 8:37AM

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Hi Michael A. I have the same vehicle my battery still works but my range is down by over 30% from what it was when new. I am interested to find out how your situation was resolved. Can you provide an update? And perhaps outline where you are located. I am in Ontario Canada

Steve (not verified)    August 18, 2022 - 1:18PM

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If its not in writing from Hyundai, it doesn't exist. I would love to see some links or something to documentation...