is anyone proactively replacing their 12v batt?

[gknyce]

I have been unable to determine a date-code on my 12v batt - not just me, had someone else look. It's a Rocket/Sebang AGM so best guess is this the original/OEM one. Car is a 2023, door jamb says Date of Manufacture says March 2022. So assuming this has been in since then, I'm approaching 4 years.

What are other ppl doing? My inclination is to replace it soon before I get any error codes or failure to charge/low batt warnings. I see it as one of the few consumables an EV has, and an important one to have in good working order. As for replacement, I'll do AGM again (H5/Group47), started looking around at (likely just Marketing materials) a DieHard EV or Optima Yellow Top. Guidance on what you did or your thoughts welcomed.

 

[EdP]

I have been unable to determine a date-code on my 12v batt - not just me, had someone else look. It's a Rocket/Sebang AGM so best guess is this the original/OEM one. Car is a 2023, door jamb says Date of Manufacture says March 2022. So assuming this has been in since then, I'm approaching 4 years.

What are other ppl doing? My inclination is to replace it soon before I get any error codes or failure to charge/low batt warnings. I see it as one of the few consumables an EV has, and an important one to have in good working order. As for replacement, I'll do AGM again (H5/Group47), started looking around at (likely just Marketing materials) a DieHard EV or Optima Yellow Top. Guidance on what you did or your thoughts welcomed.

From what I've read, in an EV it is not much different, 3 to 5 years. When I lived in a cold climate, I'd replace it in December after year 3 as a precaution. In warmer climate, it was year 4 before a long trip.

Check with your local auto parts store. Many will do a test for you for free.

 

[Bobdhd]

Yeah, used to be getting 7 years out of a battery was really good, provided you didn’t leave your lights on to kill it. My last car, I only got 3 years out of the OEM battery & 5 on the replacement. All the newer vehicles are more & more demanding on the old block of lead. I too have been wondering about a preemptive strike regarding replacing the battery.

 

[ljnelson109]

Yeah, used to be getting 7 years out of a battery was really good, provided you didn’t leave your lights on to kill it. My last car, I only got 3 years out of the OEM battery & 5 on the replacement. All the newer vehicles are more & more demanding on the old block of lead. I too have been wondering about a preemptive strike regarding replacing the battery.

I am not sure it is all about the demand on the newer cars. I think it is also the sad reality that "they don't make them like the used to". I had the pair of batteries (flooded cell) in my 2008 F250 diesel last a full 7 years. When it started acting up, I took it in for new batteries and they shop used their magic tester (including a charge cycle) and tried to convince me that they didn't need to be replaced. I was out of state, towing a 5th wheel, on vacation. I insisted that they replace them. I was thrilled with 7 years of life. Now, that would be unheard of, with flooded cell or AGM batteries.

Back to the original question, I have struggled with this decision on my last few cars. The AGM batteries in 3 other PHEV's that I have owned all had many stories from other owners that didn't make it past 2 years. I kept waiting for the shoe to drop. AND, all 3 (2 Pacificas and a Corsair) had them mounted in the hatch area so, when they fail, you have to energize the car to open the power hatch to access to dead battery. Good plan, eh? Ironically, though, I have yet to have to replace one.

 

[Ed_S]

I don't think the problem is "faulty" batteries, though there might be some isolated cases of a bad battery. I think the problem is that the EV manufacturers (not just Hyundai/Kia/Genesis) did not do their "due diligence" in designing the battery charging system, and the batteries are not being properly maintained by the battery charging system (maybe being overcharged, undercharged, etc.) leading to premature failure.

When one considers the complexity of an EV, it seems odd that the 12V batteries are not being properly maintained, should be one of the simpler tasks for an EV to perform, especially when one considers the amount energy being stored in the traction battery. Maybe in the race to have the best efficiency numbers, they underestimated the amount of energy needed to properly maintain the battery, who knows, but this should NOT be a hard problem to solve.

 

[noremacnova]

…this should NOT be a hard problem to solve.

Agreed! Toyota figured it out with the first Prius (1998?) and GM figured it out with the Gen 1 Volt (2010). Neither had an alternator.

 

[Bobdhd]

The odd thing about these AGM batteries is, they are supposed to last about twice the timeframe of a Lead Acid but from several recounts, they don’t. If an AGM was to last 5 years, what would a LA last, 2 years, 1 1/2 years ? Is this an argument for a LiFePO4 battery like a few others have done ?

 

[Jamas]

I just preemptively swapped in a new battery today. Did so for the following reasons:

1. I've had the car (with original OEM battery) for 3.5 years
2. Over the last few months, the orange charging light seems to be going on a lot more often than it used to.
3. I checked the battery with a multimeter and was only getting 12.07 volts. As I understand it, a healthy battery should be sitting idle at about 12.6-12.8 volts
4. Yesterday, after starting my car and beginning to drive, the infotainment system spontaneously rebooted. I know strange things can happen when the battery is starting to go bad.

I replaced the battery with DieHard Platinum AGM Battery: H5 Group Size, 680 CCA, 850 CA, 100 Minute Reserve Capacity

My only concern at this point is that my multimeter is still only getting a reading of 12.17 volts on the new battery. I understand the battery was probably sitting on a shelf and not fully charged, but this still seems low. Will wait a day or two to see if the car charges it back up to proper capacity.

 

[gknyce]

Thanks @Jamas I will probably be doing this same come Spring (it'll be 4 yrs from Date of Manufacture). Given the lack of oil changes/other regular maint requirements, it seems wise to be be more proactive with this item.