Owner of Hyundai plug-in hybrid shocked by $15,000 cost to replace battery

Peter Birovchak says when he purchased his plug-in hybrid electric vehicle he thought he was being a good steward of the environment.

“I liked the idea of going to a gas station once every three weeks instead of once every week,” Birovchak said.

In November 2017, the Kelowna, B.C., resident purchased a brand new 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid for around $30,000. Birovchak says he saved about $300 a month on his gas bill.

However, this past September, the engine light came on while driving. After taking the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership, Birovchak was told the electric battery would need to be replaced.

“I got a quote the next day for $15, 272 not including labour,” said Birovchak.

What’s worse, Birovchak’s vehicle had 190,000 kilometres, which meant it was past the warranty of 160,000 kilometres.

Consumer Matter's reporter Anne Drewa explains what happened next.

#GlobalNews #electricvehicle #ev #carbattery

[seeableTV]

I really hate when these car companies ONLY treat people fairly when a news organization gets involved. It's simply a PR move and anyone else is totally screwed.

[Bradleyschaeffer]

Now is definitely NOT the time to be buying a car. Average car cost $47K?! That's insane!
Check your ego at the door - you need a vehicle to get back and forth to work, not to impress anyone. An auto finance rate of 7%+ is an insult to anyone with excellent credit. No thanks. Those new cars can sit on the lot and rot away for all I care.

[joycedudzinski]

More than a decade ago I looked at a Honda hybrid at a used car lot. I asked the salesman what's the cost of replacing the battery, he never answered my question. That's when I knew why the previous owners got rid of it.

[ZEUS-xtdt]

I have a 1998 Toyota corolla running like a champ

[Byrondavis]

We need to normalize a simple lifestyle and stop normalizing debt. Huge SUVs, huge houses and private universities are simply not necessary. I live within my budget and I sleep better at night knowing that if I lose my job tomorrow, ' be fine. I didn't buy the biggest house. I bought the one I could comfortably repay

[rodbanuelos]

I have a 2008 Tacoma Toyota 4 cilinder with 300 thousand miles that’s runs like a champ ..

[bitchwhereat]

What blows me away is how people are oblivious to any of this. If your car runs off of a battery 🔋 at some point it's going to have to be replaced. And even if you buy the extended warranty in fine print it tells you it's not going to cover the expensive battery. I know many people that purchased a used Teslas totally unaware of the battery replacement but brags about how they don't have to buy gas. Warranty is gone and they riding around like it's all good.

[nbagoats]

People buying EVs and especially Teslas are riding around on a financial time bomb.

[connorcincinnati]

Now throw that old battery in the landfill.
Your an environmental hero

[Sidicas]

Remember when people said that once those types of vehicles become mainstream the batteries will be super cheap on the used market?

[paulbroderick]

A ten-year-old Mercury Grand Marquis suddenly sounds really good.

[S_Paoli]

car manufacturers should be required to list the cost of out-of-warranty EV battery replacement on the window stickers... just like how they are required to list the fuel consumption

[menguardingtheirownwallets]

In 2015 I bought a 2008 Corolla with 60, 000 kms on it, for only $9, 000. I'm still driving that car, with $240, 000 kms on it. Only large maintenance items = replaced the battery twice ($130 each time). (as well as new tires and new brakes).

[brotherowl]

"I bought this car based entirely on emotions and delusions, with zero research and education of the reality of EV's... but I thought I was virtuous."

[aarongee]

This is exactly why I’m sticking to my gas cars

[mr.g]

I inherited my Granddaddy's 2002 Buick Regal the he bought brand new back in late 2001. Car came equipped with the 3800 v6 with the supercharger. We've had the car in our family for 21 years and it's still running like brand new. Back in early 2021 I was hit by a Mustang. My car survived with minor cosmetic damage but the mustang was completely totaled. I guess my granddaddy was right they don't make them like they used to.

[boring]

How does anyone not know by now that a battery is a fortune and makes most cars scrap when the battery needs changing.

[maximusaugustus]

There is no way I buying an electric car, thank you for the heads up.

[alexaldape]

As someone who works on ev and are seeing them come out of warranty...without help from the dealership most people won't be able to afford the repair..

[frederickwise]

After years of "heads up info" about battery costs, it baffles me that EV owners are still so ignorant.