Hyundai Motor introduced a durability proof case for its self-driving mid-size electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) Ioniq 5 on 1st. The case noted that despite driving 660,000 kilometers, the battery's state of health (SoH) reached 87.7%.

The story of Ioniq 5 long-range rear-wheel-drive model owner Lee Young-heum was featured in Hyundai Motor's official media channel, HMG Journal. Frequently traveling for work, Lee covered 660,000 kilometers over three years. He was contacted by Hyundai Motor regarding a free replacement at the point of 580,000 kilometers driven, and he had never repaired or replaced any parts until that time.

Ioniq 5, which recorded a cumulative driving distance of 660,000 km after 3 years, and owner Lee Yong-heum. /Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Lee's story was presented as part of Hyundai Motor's effort to gather data for developing electric vehicle durability performance. Hyundai Motor and Kia have been researching battery lifespan prediction models to ensure the durability of electric vehicles. They determined that Lee's vehicle was an optimal candidate to gather real-world operation data, and with Lee's consent, they collected the battery and electric motor for a free replacement with new ones.

The analysis revealed that the remaining lifespan of the collected battery was 87.7%. Moreover, considering the frequent customer complaints regarding the drastic drop in SoH for electric vehicles in some countries, Hyundai Motor explained that this figure is notably high. A Hyundai Motor representative said, 'This proves the excellent durability competitiveness of Hyundai Motor and Kia's electric vehicles.'

Lee said, 'I charged it 100% every day without any issues,' and added, 'The range per charge has only slightly decreased compared to the beginning, but it has remained consistently stable.'

Yoon Dal-young, chief researcher at the Hyundai Motor and Kia Battery Development Center, who is researching battery durability. /Courtesy of Hyundai Motor

Yoon Dal-young, head researcher at the battery development center of Hyundai Motor and Kia, explained, 'Hyundai Motor and Kia's electric vehicles are developed based on the most extreme conditions,' and noted, 'We are striving to secure performance that is much stricter than warranty standards, and the 87.7% remaining lifespan aligns with the results calculated through our internal lifespan prediction model.'

He also added, 'We plan to continue accumulating know-how by proposing new electric vehicle battery design guidelines utilizing the real-world data obtained this time.'