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Science & Technology
Used Electric Car $11,000, Replacement Battery $14,000
2022-07-19
[Breitbart] A Florida family recently discovered that replacing the battery for their electric vehicle costs more than what they paid for the car.

Avery Siwinski, 17, of St. Petersburg, received a used 2014 Ford Focus Electric from her parents that cost $11,000 and had 60,000 miles on it, WTSP reported.


After six months of driving, the vehicle started having some mechanical issues before it stopped running altogether.

Siwinski’s grandfather, Ray, sought to help her with the car problems, as her father had passed away in June from Stage 4 cancer.

Ray Siwinski realized it was a common problem for this type of vehicle to need its battery replaced.

But when he received a quote from the Ford dealership, he was told it would cost a whopping $14,000 to replace the battery — $3,000 more than what the family paid for the used electric vehicle.

He also noted that the quote did not include "installation and labor costs," WTSP reported.

After more research, Ray discovered that Ford was no longer producing batteries for that type of electric vehicle.

He issued a warning to anyone who was thinking about buying an electric vehicle.

"If you’re buying a new one, you have to realize there is no second-hand market right now because the manufacturers are not supporting the cars," he told WTSP.

Despite the reliability and financial problems electric vehicles may pose for owners, such as what the Siwinksi family faced, the Biden administration is heavily pushing American families to ditch their gas-powered cars for electric ones.

"People from rural to suburban to urban communities can all benefit from the gas savings of driving an EV," Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in March, amid record-high gas prices.

A Wall Street Journal reporter recently rented an electric vehicle for a four-day road trip and noticed she was spending more time charging the car than sleeping. The reporter then noted that "[f]umes never smelled so sweet" when filling up her gas-powered vehicle after the conclusion of her trip.
Posted by:Cletle Shinese1880

#8  In northern areas with salted roads life of the EV electronics is severely compromised. Also as with any computer systems planned obsolescence is ever present flaw. So you go in for service and you are told sorry your system needs to be replaced with new system. Windows 7,8,9,10,11 to infinity and beyond. That's why mechanics in my area actively look for prior 2000 models. One fellow with 50 year old truck keeps getting people wanting for him to sell his truck (10 times he was approached in one week).
Posted by: Dale   2022-07-19 19:20  

#7  ^^^^^ Shhhhh, don't say fire, that happens to EVs regularly, and in that theater, well not good...
EV Battery Fires: Everything You Need to Know
Posted by: Snereling Elmart9330   2022-07-19 17:21  

#6  JohnFnKerry wants us to go green ASAP. Sure fire recipe for disaster.
Posted by: JohnQC   2022-07-19 13:40  

#5  Obviously the Good Idea Fairyâ„¢ will solve all this soon!
Posted by: magpie   2022-07-19 10:42  

#4  It used to be 10 years from date of manufacture, SCFI. I believe that has changed to just the warranty period.
Posted by: Mullah Richard   2022-07-19 07:44  

#3  Atttn Seeking Cure For Ignorance

I am not sure in the US, but in Australia, if they have a battery for $14,000 and will replace it then that is considered supporting.
Posted by: Bernardz   2022-07-19 06:19  

#2  Since this financial dilemma is the now obvious, I would suggest all parties holding "E-Vehicle" stock shares consider selling them now; EV's do not pay in anyway, recycling, environmentally, nor in plain financial viability; new or used. Get out while the going is good.
Posted by: Large Hupereper8483   2022-07-19 02:27  

#1  I seems to recall that there was a federal law requiring automotive manufacturers to support their products for some 10 to 25 years from date of manufacture? (Exact length of time varies depending on the web sites I checked in a quick research.)

yes I actually tried to do my homework! (Sometime.)

Posted by: Seeking Cure For Ignorance   2022-07-19 00:35  

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