His Hyundai Ioniq 5 battery retained 88% capacity even after 360,000 miles | Carscoops

      A Hyundai Ioniq 5 owner in South Korea has driven over 416,940 miles and saved approximately $21,530 in refueling expenses.

      At the milestone of 360,395 miles, the vehicle showed no issues and the battery maintained a health of 87.7%. By the time it reached 410,105 miles, the owner had realized significant savings on fuel.

      Battery wear is a significant concern for electric vehicle owners and can incur substantial costs, as new battery packs can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. This makes Lee Young-Heum’s Hyundai Ioniq 5 particularly noteworthy. As a traveling salesman, he accumulated a remarkable amount of mileage, traveling 360,395 miles (580,000 km) in a span of 2 years and 9 months.

      This extensive usage attracted the attention of the Hyundai-Kia Research Institute, which aimed to study the performance of the battery and powertrain. Although Lee reported no issues, the company opted to replace his battery and motor at no cost to examine the worn components.

      The analysis indicated that despite the extensive distance traveled—more than the distance from the Earth to the Moon—the battery's state of health was at an impressive 87.7%. This is particularly notable considering Lee frequently used rapid charging, which is known to significantly stress EV batteries.

      As explained by Hyundai’s Yoon Dal-Young, the development of batteries requires a prediction model for durability performance that needs to align with actual usage outcomes. Consequently, they typically assess the batteries from high-mileage customer vehicles. While they usually examine taxis, Lee’s vehicle recorded the highest mileage observed on an Ioniq 5.

      **Significant Maintenance and Fuel Savings**

      Lee mentioned that when he drove combustion engine vehicles, he needed to change the oil every 15 days due to extensive driving. Even with regular maintenance, he often had to replace engine and drivetrain components "continuously."

      In contrast, he noted that the Ioniq 5 only required the replacement of "the most basic consumables." At 410,105 miles (660,000 km), he would have needed 66 oil changes, 8 spark plug replacements, 13 brake fluid changes, and 11 transmission oil changes if he drove a Tucson, in addition to dealing with wear and tear.

      Hyundai estimates that this maintenance would have cost between $8,612 to $9,330 (₩12 to ₩13 million). In comparison, the maintenance costs for the Ioniq 5 were significantly lower at approximately $1,076 (₩1.5 million).

      Lee also enjoyed substantial savings in refueling costs. Hyundai estimated that a turbocharged 1.6-liter Tucson would have required about $57,412 (₩80 million) in fuel, while the charging cost for the Ioniq 5 was around $35,882 (₩50 million). This results in a savings of $21,530 (₩30 million).

      Apart from the financial benefits, the Ioniq 5 has been largely trouble-free. However, after reaching 403,891 miles (650,000 km), the vehicle stopped slow charging. This issue arose when the onboard charger reached the end of its life and "died a 'natural death.'"

      The car continues to perform well, boasting over 416,940 miles (671,000 km) on the odometer. Nonetheless, it is getting a much-needed rest as Lee has recently changed jobs and will be driving less.