US Federal Regulation On EV Battery Warranties

Replacing electric car battery packs can be very expensive. Luckily the electric car batteries are made to outlast the car they are in. Still, manufacturers have come up with amazing warranties on electric car batteries. Then What is An US Federal Regulation On EV Battery?

US Federal Regulation On EV Battery Warranties has made it mandatory to cover an electric car battery for a minimum time period of eight years or 100,000 miles in every state.

Make & Model	Warranty Miles	Warranty Year
Kia Soul Electric	10,000	10
Tesla Model S AWD – P90D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – P85D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – 90D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – 85D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – 70D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S (85 kW-hr battery pack)	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S (60 kW-hr battery pack)	Unlimited	8
Volkswagen e-Golf	100,000	8
Nissan Leaf	100,000	8
Mitsubishi I – MiEV	100,000	8
Mercedes – Benz B250e	100,000	8
Ford Focus Electric	100,000	8
Fiat 500e	100,000	8
Chevrolet Spark EV	100,000	8
BMW X5 xDrive40e	100,000	8
BMW i3 BEV	100,000	8

Battery Warranty As Per Vehicle Make And Model

Due to this, various automakers offer a warranty of 100,000 miles or 8 to 10 years. However, the terms for EV batteries can vary.

Various automakers can cover EV batteries for only complete failure. However, Nissan, Volkswagen, and Tesla always Honor the warranty policy of covering vehicle batteries if the capacity percentage hits below a specific threshold which is normally 60 to 70 percent.

If you are purchasing an electric vehicle, it is recommended to check the battery warranty.

For example, Nissan Leaf has a percentage guarantee of around 75%, but they use their own measuring unit, ‘bars.’A full-leaf electric battery has 12 bars but the battery warranty guarantees it for only nine bars of charge.

Exclusions Of EV Warranty

The repairing cost of electric batteries is very high so it is important to know the conditions or exclusions which can impact the warranty of electric vehicle battery

General neglect or abuse
Using the car for towing or exceeding load items

Fail to make repairs (if needed)
Lifting the car from underneath the battery area instead of a dedicated body lift point
Failures or damage caused by a repair done by a non-certified technician

Failing to install firmware or software updates
Damage caused by opening the battery coolant reservoir
Using an electric car battery as the stationary power source

Damage caused by installing or using non–approved parts
Following non–standard charging practices

An Overview of US Federal Regulation On EV Battery Warranties

The administration of Biden Harris and the 117^th Congress has passed important legislation which will establish leadership of the United States in electrical transportation and maintain global competitiveness in the automobile industry.

The act of infrastructure investment and Jobs and the Inflation Reduction Act are historic acts that invest hundreds of millions in the EV battery sector.

This will bolster United State manufacturing and the supply chain for supporting the transition for both medium, light, and heavy-duty sectors.

The Electrification Coalition also has long advocated for federal policies for accelerating the adoption of electric vehicle batteries.

These policies can be separated into four core pillars

Purchase incentives

Tax credits for every EV will continue to spur market growth by simply decreasing the early higher upfront cost of the EV.

It also signals to manufacturers, fleet operators, and consumers that the US is prioritizing the electric transportation future.

The Act of Inflation Reduction has also created a long-term extension of the section 30D tax credit for the new commercial EV credit (section 45W) and the used EV credits (section 25E).

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has also created a clean school bus program with $2.5 billion in funding for the lease or purchase of electric school buses. Some modifications are needed in section 30D credit, clean school bus program, and excise tax.

If these modifications can be done in a timely manner, then we can run 100% electric vehicles on the roads of the USA.

Charging infrastructure funding

Fleet operators, drivers, businesses, and consumers need adequate access to the EV charging infrastructure.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has also included $5 billion to construct a network of EV charging along the highways and offer another $2.5 billion in competitive grants for funding future build-out charging infrastructure (including alternative fuelled charging technology).

Around 50% of the funding under the competitive grant program should be put toward communities with priority given to very low-income and rural communities.

The Act of Inflation Reduction has also included a long-term extension of the section 30C Alternative fuel vehicle refiling property credit till Dec. 31, 2032.

The credit under section 30C was also modified to permit bidirectional charging stations to qualify for the credits.

With these programs and the credit, the United States is on its way to meeting the demand for charging infrastructure as the adoption grows.

But still, be a need for ‘rest stop electrification’ which helps to enable the commercialization of the rest stops along the interstate highways. It also allows EV charging stations to be defined as allowable commercial activity at the rest stops.

Federal fleet electrification

The government of the United States can lead by example by simply electrifying the federal fleet which also includes the US postal service vehicles.

The administration of the Biden government has also set a goal to electrify the new light-duty vehicles by the year 2027 and to make every federal vehicle acquisition electric by 2035.

The EC has strongly encouraged every agency to keep track of fleet electrification efforts.

Along with this, the EC supports a bold allocation of funding for federal fleet electrification and also includes USPS fleet electrification.

It also includes these additional programs

USPS funding

The act of Inflation Reduction includes $3 billion to electrify the US federal fleet, however, more is needed to complete the transition of the fleet and to cover the initial upfront cost of the vehicles.

As the fleet transition to electric, the USPS will see great financial savings and significant carbon reduction conversion also.

Total cost of ownership methodology

Nowadays government fleet does not use a total cost of ownership calculator for determining which gas vehicle to replace with which electric vehicle.

Requiring that this methodology can be used in fleet vehicle replacement would make sure that any upfront price of the electric vehicle and the charging infrastructure is appropriately balanced with the benefits the EVs bring i.e., lower fuelling and maintenance costs as compared to the diesel and gas vehicles.

The EC also supports the total cost of ownership methodology which can be used to replace vehicles within the government fleet and it also included non – tactical military vehicles.

EV manufacturing and supply chain funding programs

The Act of Inflation Reduction and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has various policies and programs which can promote the US supply chain and manufacturing of these clean vehicles.

Policies in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also include $6.135 billion of electronic battery material manufacturing, processing, and recycling grants.

Policies in the Inflation Reduction Act also include $10 billion for section 48C manufacturing tax credits with specific inclusion for the applicable EV projects.

A new manufacturing production credit i.e., section 45X for the manufacturing of batteries and the critical minerals facilities, and $3 billion for Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing programs with the specific incentive amount for critical minerals and battery production. Along with this $2 billion for the Domestic Manufacturing Conversion Grant Program.

Electric Vehicle Battery Warranty

New technology brings various questions, and we talk about electric car batteries, there are many of them, especially for electric car batteries.

The major concern of electric car drivers is what will happen to the EV battery as they age.

Does the electric car become useless, or are they covered under the electric car battery policy?

Battery Warranty As Per Vehicle Make And Model

Make & Model	Warranty Miles	Warranty Year
Kia Soul Electric	10,000	10
Tesla Model S AWD – P90D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – P85D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – 90D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – 85D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S AWD – 70D	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S (85 kW-hr battery pack)	Unlimited	8
Tesla Model S (60 kW-hr battery pack)	Unlimited	8
Volkswagen e-Golf	100,000	8
Nissan Leaf	100,000	8
Mitsubishi I – MiEV	100,000	8
Mercedes – Benz B250e	100,000	8
Ford Focus Electric	100,000	8
Fiat 500e	100,000	8
Chevrolet Spark EV	100,000	8
BMW X5 xDrive40e	100,000	8
BMW i3 BEV	100,000	8

Battery Warranty As Per Vehicle Make And Model

Car Warranty Coverage

When it comes to car maintenance, there are many valid reasons for owning a gasoline-powered vehicle.

It includes payment for routine services like tire rotations, oil changes, and ownership. Some parts like belts to brake pads can also wear out and require replacement.

If the electric vehicle is new, then it covers many repairs for the first few years of the ownership, but it does not include routine maintenance expenses.

The electric car owner faces a major expense if the most expensive part of the car, i.e., the battery pack, fails outside the warranty coverage.

Working On Electric Vehicle Warranty

A network of warranties covers electric vehicles. Generally, every part of an electric vehicle is covered under the bumper-to-bumper warranty.

When people buy a new electric vehicle, they always opt for bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. It helps replace anything that is either defective or worn out before time.

They also cover a set distance or time, like 36,000 miles or three years, whichever is reached first.

For a traditional automobile, the powertrain warranty typically covers the transmission and engine separately, and that too for a longer duration.

For example, if the seat adjustment breaks at 36,001 miles, the repairing cost is on you, but if the water pump fails at the same time, manufacturers will cover the replacement cost.

Some other warranties cover things like emission systems, corrosion, and seatbelts.

Every electric vehicle has an additional warranty that covers the electric motor, battery, and other unique electric parts fitted in the electric vehicle.

Warranty Length Of Electric Battery

Powertrain electric car warranties can vary from one manufacturer to another. They usually provide coverage for 60,000 miles or at least five years. Some warranties can last for as long as 100,000 miles or ten years.

Electric vehicle warranty coverage lasts a little longer. U.S. Federal law wants automakers to ensure that electric vehicle batteries are covered for at least 100,000 miles or ten years.

However, in California, you can get electric vehicle warranty coverage for 150,000 miles or ten years.

Toyota manufacturers are following this policy in all 50 states of the USA.

Do Electric Vehicle Batteries Degrade?

Every electric vehicle running on the roads of the United States uses lithium ion for generating power in the battery. This is the same found in mobile phones, and you might have noticed that mobile Electric batteries discharge very quickly and are incapable of holding the charging like they did when new.

The same is the concept for electric vehicle batteries. They also become less efficient with the passing year. However, if you keep battery hygiene reasonable, it can minimize the loss of its life, and the battery will last longer.

The risk of electric vehicle batteries can be overstated as per Recurrent company which trans the life of electric car battery has found that every electric vehicle battery loses 5 to 10% of life in the initial five years.

Another company, GeoTab, based in Toronto, has tracked electric battery health for different vehicles and has observed that every electric battery degrades 2.3% each year.

Do Original Car Warranties Cover Battery Life Loss?

If you buy a new electric vehicle, every part is covered under warranty, including electric batteries.

Many electric vehicle car battery warranties say that when automobile manufacturers replace the car battery, they will replace the one that has fallen below 70% of its capacity during the warranty period.

However, different manufacturers have defined their battery capacity for replacement like

Brand name	Battery capacity
Tesla	70%
Volkswagen	75%
Nissan Leaf	75%

Are Electric Vehicle Battery Warranties Transferable?

Every electric car battery is covered under warranty. So, if any damage is caused within the warranty period, the damage cost must be paid by the manufacturer.

Primarily, but not all, automobile manufacturers transfer electric car battery warranty when a new owner buys a used vehicle.

If you are getting a used electric vehicle, then transferring the electric vehicle battery is possible. Sometimes it covers warranty transfer of the entire warranty policy.

Will My Electric Vehicle Battery Die After The Warranty Expires?

Electric vehicle batteries are designed to power an electric vehicle for 100,000 miles or more (if kept in reasonable condition).

Electric car batteries last longer even if their warranty is expired. The elements from which the battery is made up can be recycled and can be used in making other batteries or at some other helpful place.

Modern electric batteries are expected to retain around 90% of their original capacity even after driving 150,000+ miles.

On the odometer, if the car is initially rated for 250 miles, then it means that you still have 225 miles left on the charge after the milestone of 150,000.

What Can We Expect From An Electric Vehicle Warranty?

To incentivize, increase and purchase confidence in the electric vehicle, U.S. federal regulations have set a minimum warranty for electric vehicle high voltage batteries which is 100,000 miles or eight years.

For California, this has been set to 150,000 miles or ten years. Auto manufacturers are free to extend this warranty.

Manufacturer warranty starts to differ from the minimum federal policy. Various manufacturers warrant against total failure; however, those warranties are becoming uncommon in the coming time.

Due to this, various manufacturers warrant against degradation past a certain point after the warranty period or total failure.

Some manufacture a battery against dipping below 70% of the initial capacity. Other manufacturers only replace the battery when it dips below 65% of the original capacity; however, some cover the battery only when they exceed an average of 75%.

So, the higher the percentage the less degradation is needed for the electric battery to qualify for the warranty replacement.

Tesla Battery Warranty

Tesla EV powertrain warranty is divided into two tires.

Tesla Model X (starting at $114,990) and Tesla Model S (starting at $99,990) have 150,000 miles or eight years of electric powertrain warranty. Here the battery capacity retention is promised to be a minimum of 70%.
Tesla Model 3 performance and long-range, and all Model Y’s will get warranty coverage of 120,000 miles or eight years.
The most affordable model of Tesla i.e., Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive gets a coverage of 100,000 miles or eight years.

Tesla Model	Powertrain warranty coverage
Model X and Model S	8 years or 150,000 miles
Tesla Model 3 performance and long range and all Model Y’s	8 years or 120,000 miles
Tesla Model 3 Rear Wheel Drive	8 years or 100,000 miles

Best Electric Vehicle Battery Warranty For Affordable Electric Car

If you want to get an electric car under $65,000, then no one can compete with Hyundai and Kia’s warranty of 10 years or 100,000 miles.

The EV warranty of Hyundai covers powertrain components, motors, and batteries. They also offer a guarantee of a minimum of 70% battery capacity retention.

However, other electric car batteries will experience some degradation over time; however, the Hyundai battery will not degrade more than 70% of the initial capacity overtime during the warranty period.

EV battery warranty for the rest of the gang: 100,000 miles or eight years and powertrain warranty.

Nowadays, almost every automobile manufacturer offers a warranty of 100,000 miles or eight years (whichever comes first). The warranty applies to the below vehicle models

Electric Car	Electric Battery Capacity Retention Guaranteed
Jaguar I PACE	70%
Ford F–150 Lightning	70%
Ford Mustang Mach	70%
Nissan Leaf	70%
Chevy Bolt	60%
Audi e-Tron	70%
Nissan Ariya	70%
Toyota zZ4X	70%
Lucid Air	70%
Polestar 2	70%
Volvo XC40 and C40 recharge	70%
Volkswagen ID.4	70%

Extend The Life Of Your EV Battery

With the help of the below tips, you can extend the life of your EV battery

Never charge the electric vehicle every night

Adopt best charging practices to charge the battery
Try to keep your battery range between 20 to 80 percent
Control optimal battery state during long storage

Conclusion

U.S. Federal Regulations on electronic vehicle batteries are made to promote batteries for future use. The US government has a plan to run only EVs on the road of the USA for which they have passed a law and every manufacturing unit is working on it including the recycling/reusing of electric vehicle batteries.

FAQs

What is the difference between battery insurance and an extended electric car warranty?

The basic difference is that insurance covers the cost of repairs from the act of nature or an accident; however, an extended warranty only covers the cost of repair in the event of a total failure.

What is a drivetrain warranty for an electric vehicle battery?

The drivetrain warranty for the electric vehicle includes almost everything in the powertrain warranty, not the engine.
This warranty package is comparatively more affordable than a powertrain warranty as it does not cover the cost of engine failure (which is the most costly part).

Are powertrain electric vehicle battery warranties worth it?

Many major failures in an electric vehicle are not about if; it is about when. Most of the components or parts will eventually fail with time.
If you are purchasing an electric car without powertrain coverage, you can face serious charges when there is any damage to the vehicle.

Does the vehicle’s extended warranty cover battery replacement?

Most car makers offer extended EV warranties but not battery replacement, as it degrades over time.

Can you get an extended EV battery warranty?

No automaker company in the US provides extended EV battery coverage. Various companies in the UK are providing this facility but not in the US.

Does Tesla offer extended warranty coverage on electric vehicle batteries?

Tesla typically offers 2 to 4 years of extended warranty under the ‘Extended Service Agreement Program’; however, it includes a battery for EVs.