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Electric car buyers in Australia are facing a new concern.
There are demands for increased responsibilities for car manufacturers to correctly state how long EV batteries should last, according to a report from the Australian Automotive Dealer Association (AADA).
The report warns that buyers could face a “wave of litigation” when EV batteries need replacement outside of warranty as their cost could exceed the vehicle’s remaining value.
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One particular dealer said Chinese-built cars are “not holding their charge” or are “blowing up on fire”.
The report suggests manufacturers should be required to define acceptable battery thresholds or disclose the expected degradation of a unit.
Most batteries carry an eight-year or 160,000km manufacturer warranty, but dealers are looking for greater clarity on what this means.
The new initiative would require manufacturers to provide clear indicators of acceptable battery performance.
A battery would be considered to be performing at an acceptable level if it has at least 70 per cent of its total capacity remaining after more than eight years, for example.
The EV driving range debate continues to rage on and it remains a substantial roadblock for buyers considering switching from petrol- and diesel-powered cars.
Many EVs now boast more than 500km of driving range, but people have also started to recognise that most journeys do not require significant amounts of driving.
The convenience and accessibility to home and public charging have also increased the convenience of EVs.
Reported driving range figures on a particular car can vary greatly depending on the testing cycle used.
The Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) is viewed as the most accurate standard available.
Its testing figures often come in noticeably lower than the older New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and the even more generous China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC).
As much as these systems do their best to mirror real-world driving, they can never be truly accurate because of the different ways people use their cars.
Consumers often experience range anxiety or disappointment when EVs fail to achieve the range advertised in brochures, according to AADA.
AADA has put forward a series of reforms for the Australian Consumer Law to adopt, but it remains to be seen whether any of these will make their way into legislation.
