by Battery capacity loss is a serious issue that can be costly for owners. Although the cost depends on the model and capacity, a new battery can be quite expensive. This is why the case of Lee Young-him is so interesting. Working as a salesman, he covered an incredible distance. In 2 years and 9 months, his electric vehicle covered 360,395 miles (580,000 km).
This caught the attention of the Hyundai-Kia Research Institute, which decided to check the condition of the battery and powertrain. Although Lee had no complaints, the company replaced the battery and motor free of charge to study the used components.
The research showed that after such intensive use – a distance greater than that from Earth to the Moon – the battery’s wear level was only 87.7%. This is an impressive figure, considering the owner actively used fast charging, which is known to wear out batteries faster.
As explained by Hyundai representative Yoon Dae-ryong: “When developing a battery, we create a durability prediction model and test its compliance with real operating conditions. That is why we study batteries from customer vehicles with high mileage.” The company usually uses taxis for such tests, but Lee’s Ioniq 5 set a record for mileage among all studied models.
Savings on Maintenance and Fuel
Lee said that when he drove an ICE vehicle, due to the high mileage, he had to change the oil every 15 days. Despite regular maintenance, engine and transmission components constantly failed.
With the Ioniq 5, the situation is different – during the entire period of operation, he only had to replace basic consumables. At the 410,105-mile (660,000 km) mark, a conventional car would have required 66 oil changes, 8 sets of spark plugs, 13 brake fluid changes, and 11 transmission oil changes. This is not including the wear of other parts.
According to Hyundai’s estimates, such maintenance would have cost $8,612–$9,330. For the Ioniq 5, this amount is significantly less – only $1,076.
Lee also saved significantly on fuel. According to calculations, a turbocharged Tucson with a 1.6L engine would have consumed $57,412 worth of fuel. Meanwhile, the charging costs for the Ioniq 5 amounted to about $35,882. The difference of $21,530 is significant.
Besides savings, the electric vehicle caused almost no problems. However, after 403,891 miles (650,000 km), the slow charging device stopped working due to natural wear and tear.
The car continues to drive, and its mileage has already exceeded 416,940 miles (671,000 km). But now it will get a rest – Lee changed jobs and will now drive less.
