I drive home after a jump, and it runs fine the next day, but the battery is dead again at night after work. It’s an Ioniq electric with only 40k miles. Could it be related to the low battery in my key fob? I get a message saying the key is not in the car and I have to push the power button with the key. It’s strange since it doesn’t give me any trouble on the way to work.
Why are you posting on this forum about it? Just change the battery or file a claim if it’s under warranty. If you’re in AZ, TX, or other hot areas, batteries tend to fail.
Finley said:
Why are you posting on this forum about it? Just change the battery or file a claim if it’s under warranty. If you’re in AZ, TX, or other hot areas, batteries tend to fail.
A battery warranty probably won’t cover the 12v battery. I’d say it’s charging at home, so it’s topped up while charging, but the 12v is bad and discharges quickly because of a collapsed lead plate in the cell. At work, the car is off the charger, and it’s not using the transformer that powers the 12v from the car’s main battery, which is why it dies.
@Lael
12v batteries have their own warranties.
It seems like it’s time to replace the 12v battery and maybe the fob battery as well.
Phoenix said:
It seems like it’s time to replace the 12v battery and maybe the fob battery as well.
I’ve replaced the fob batteries, and I will replace the 12v battery when I get paid. Thanks for the advice.
Phoenix said:
It seems like it’s time to replace the 12v battery and maybe the fob battery as well.
I read that a 12v battery in an EV can last 10 to 12 years or 200k miles, but my car is only 3 years old with 40k miles. A dead battery wouldn’t start fine every day at home and then fail at night. The drive is the same both ways, and it sits longer at home than at work.
@Eli
I think you’re confusing the 12v battery with the traction battery. The 12v doesn’t last that long in an EV, and sometimes it lasts less.
@Eli
I have a 75k km car, and I just changed the 12v. My symptoms were exactly like yours. Time to change it out.
@Eli
It can last a long time, but 10 years is extreme. Maybe lithium low voltage batteries can last that long. But they can fail sooner. Typically, car batteries have a 2-year warranty. After 3 years, it’s probably not under warranty, but it’s worth asking. Tesla replaced mine for free after 1 year.
@Eli
Ok, don’t change it then. Ignore the advice and do nothing.
Lennon said:
@Eli
Ok, don’t change it then. Ignore the advice and do nothing.
Sorry if I upset anyone by wondering why a battery would work fine on the way to work but fail after work. I’ve had dead batteries before, and when they die, they die. I just wanted to understand why this is happening. I later learned that the 10 to 12-year battery life applies to lithium-ion batteries, so I guess I was mistaken. Sorry again for the confusion.
@Eli
That’s the traction or ‘big’ battery, not the 12v.
@Eli
EVs have two batteries. The main drive battery is large and gets most of the attention, and it can last longer than the car. The 12v battery is a lead-acid battery like the starter battery in regular cars, and it usually lasts about as long. Some brands manage the 12v battery better, and some EVs are switching to small lithium-ion batteries, which could last as long as the car. But it’s still too new to say for sure.
@Eli
This really sounds like it’s the 12v battery.
Xavi said:
@Eli
This really sounds like it’s the 12v battery.
I think that’s the issue. It wasn’t working at home, either. I guess it was just enough to work sometimes. The key fob battery also died, so I wasn’t sure what was going on.
@Eli
You need to understand what a 12v battery is. Every car has one. It powers the starter in regular cars, and it also powers the accessories like lights and radio. Electric vehicles also have 12v batteries for the same reason. If it goes bad, it needs to be replaced, usually every 3-5 years. You can replace it for about $100-$200. This is not the same as the large electric battery that drives the motors.
How many years has the car been running?
Gracen said:
How many years has the car been running?
My 17 Ioniq has 100,000 km on its original 12v battery. I don’t expect it to last much longer, though.
Gracen said:
How many years has the car been running?
My 17 Ioniq has 100,000 km on its original 12v battery. I don’t expect it to last much longer, though.
An 8-year-old 12v battery is impressive. They usually last about 4-5 years in my area. Just buy a new one.