Nearly 20 Million NEVs Face Expired Battery Warranties, Highlighting Risks of Unauthorized Aftermarket Battery Modifications

Within the next eight years, approximately 20 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) in China will gradually exceed their battery warranty periods. Of these, around 980,000 vehicles are expected to go out of warranty in 2028, rising to 7.2 million by 2032. As early-model NEVs increasingly suffer from battery degradation, replacing batteries through official channels remains prohibitively expensive—so much so that for some older models, the cost of a replacement battery even exceeds the vehicle’s residual value. Against this backdrop, a gray-market modification service has emerged, offering to extend driving range by adding external auxiliary batteries. Vendors promote these modifications on short-video platforms, secondhand marketplaces, and social media “recommendation” platforms, claiming that customers can significantly boost their vehicle’s range by purchasing an external battery kit for RMB 6,800 to 9,000 and paying an additional RMB 200 to 1,000 for installation—far less than the official battery replacement cost. However, such modifications carry significant legal and safety risks. Unauthorized installation of external batteries constitutes illegal vehicle modification and violates road traffic safety regulations. These aftermarket batteries are often encased in simple plastic shells without the safety structures or standardized thermal management systems provided by automakers, posing serious fire or explosion hazards. Reputable chain auto repair shops typically refuse to perform such services, as they lack the necessary qualifications for repairing electric powertrain systems (the "three electric" components: motor, battery, and electronics) and could face liability claims from automakers due to unauthorized modifications.