Replacing the battery of this hybrid Mercedes costs more than the car itself

The battery warranty of electric cars is an aspect that must always be considered when purchasing a new electrified car, especially if you intend to own the car for an extended period of time or if you drive many kilometers. The price for replacing a unit varies and, as discussed in this in-depth analysis, can change based on a number of aspects. A more striking case has appeared on the net in the past few hours and concerns a Mercedes E-Class, more precisely the E350e variant of 2018, which to replace the battery requires an intervention greater than the value of the car itself.

The case comes directly from England and concerns a retiree who, unfortunately, found himself in the situation of having to replace the high voltage battery dedicated to the powertrain. According to what was reported, the estimate drawn up by the official dealership would be over 15 thousand pounds (about 18 thousand euros) and therefore well above the (used) market value of the German station wagon. Battery unusable after just 4 years? Not exactly. The problem, in fact, would derive from the maximum charge level (SOC, State of Charge) that would be compromised and limited on this specific model.

Fortunately it should be a more than isolated case as, today, the warranty on electrical modules is well over 3 or 4 years. A few years ago, however, the manufacturer's standard warranty on the 125 Volt high voltage battery was just 3 years (unlimited km). The pensioner will now have to decide whether to scrap the car or proceed with the repair; apparently, however, it may not be an isolated but almost common case in cars of this type.