Battery Degradation in EVs Sparks Illegal Modifications, Raising Urgent Safety Concerns

As the first large-scale fleet of new-energy commercial vehicles enters the high-incidence period of battery degradation, many ride-hailing drivers are facing severe range loss—often halved—and replacement battery costs exceeding their vehicles’ residual value. To sustain their livelihoods, some owners have resorted to installing unauthorized "external batteries" or range extenders in their trunks, fueling a vast gray market for illegal modifications. However, such modifications carry significant safety risks, including thermal runaway and electrical control system malfunctions, and most insurers refuse to cover accidents stemming from these alterations. Currently, most automakers’ warranty policies exclude commercial-use vehicles, and no official compliant retrofitting solutions are available. Although 2026 is expected to mark the beginning of a “compliance era” for vehicle modifications, with relevant regulations gradually taking effect, these illegally modified vehicles remain “rolling time bombs” on the road during this transitional period, urgently demanding systemic solutions.