In Arizona, the owner of a hybrid vehicle recently shared the painful experience of having to replace an exorbitantly expensive battery for the car. According to reports, Lucas Turner took his 2014 Infiniti hybrid to the dealership to investigate a check engine light.
While Turner admittedly expected something to be wrong with the vehicle, necessitating a repair, he was blown away by the quote given to him by the dealer to install a new hybrid battery. “They told me that I need a new hybrid battery and it’s going to cost $18,000 for the battery and another $2,000 to have it installed,” the Infiniti owner said. “My jaw dropped with them wanting $20,000 just for a battery. It makes no sense in my mind.”
According to Turner, the hybrid vehicle had a relatively low 70,000 miles on it, considering the age of the Infiniti. Furthermore, he only paid $16,000 for the car, where the battery replacement would cost much more than the original purchase price.
Online estimates suggest that replacing a hybrid battery can cost anywhere in the range of $1,000 to $8,000, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Nerdwallet notes that a substantial portion of the cost associated with a hybrid battery replacement lies in the cost of labor, where mechanics require specialized training.
Those familiar with the hybrid vehicles suggested that Turner could find a cheaper alternative for much less than the dealer quoted him. “There’s no doubt in my mind that [Turner] could find a less expensive battery from another source,” said Karl Brauer, an automotive industry analyst.
Apparently, EV and hybrid batteries are designed to last much longer and are typically under warranty for eight years or up to 100,000 miles. “It’s not uncommon for these batteries to last 15-plus years and more than 150,000 miles,” he added.
Car experts often stress the importance of having the battery checked in a used vehicle before purchasing it. “That should be part of the pre-purchase inspection, which you should always do when you’re buying a used car,” Brauer continued. “Checking the battery is the first step. They should use that as a negotiation point and research potential replacement costs.”
While Turner can still technically operate and drive his Infiniti, he doesn’t know how long the car will continue running without the critical battery replacement. “So, $20,000 or a pile of scrap metal in my driveway,” he lamented. It is reported that Infiniti has offered Turner a 50 percent discount on the expensive battery replacement.
As EVs and hybrid vehicles are a relatively new addition to the automotive industry, essential repairs, such as Turner’s hybrid battery replacement, can lead to overall maintenance costs that far outpace traditional gas-powered vehicles. This is a commonly cited reservation consumers have when weighing the decision to purchase a battery-powered car over a combustion engine.
The American Tribune reported on an open letter sent to the Biden administration by thousands of car dealers, urging the president to hold off on his EV agenda. The letter explained that EVs are piling up on their lots as consumer demand does not match supply.
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