Geely is concerned about the durability of used electric vehicles.

According to Geely, battery degradation poses a threat. It may no longer be worthwhile to repair an electric car that still has a long lifespan ahead.

An electric car that is 10 years old and has covered 200,000 kilometers can still perform well. But what if the battery is no longer in good condition? What if replacing it costs so much that repairing the car becomes unfeasible?

This is the scenario that concerns Li Shufu, president of the Geely group. At a meeting of the World Internet Conference 2026 in China, he warned about the mismatch between the longevity of electric cars and their batteries.

For Li Shufu, the problem has not yet reached serious proportions in China because the electric vehicle market is still relatively young. But time is passing, and the issue will not disappear on its own.

Also present at the meeting, William Li, founder and CEO of Nio, reiterated this concern. A car may last 10 years or 200,000 kilometers with another five or six years of use ahead, but its battery degradation can affect both range and resale value.

This doesn’t mean the battery must necessarily be replaced after 10 years. Degradation varies from car to car and depends on factors such as usage, temperature, and charging habits.

But concerns are already emerging in China’s used car market. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), about 80% of used car dealers in China refuse electric vehicles that are over five years old.

Depreciation is also severe. Per data from the China Association of Automobile Dealers, an electric vehicle three years old retains roughly 45% of its original value, compared to about 55% in 2023. Rapid technological advancements and competition from newer models also help explain this decline.

Replacing the battery can cost 13,000 euros

According to figures published by the Chinese newspaper Yicai, an engineer from a CATL service center in Shanghai estimated that a full battery replacement costs around 100,000 yuan, approximately 13,000 euros.

Repairing the battery is cheaper. At the same center, the costs for repair work range from 10,000 to 20,000 yuan, which is equivalent to 1,300 to 2,600 euros.

The difference is significant, but there is one issue: not all batteries are designed to be easily repaired. For example, in cell-to-pack (CTP) architectures, the cells are integrated directly into the battery pack, eliminating traditional modular structures. This can make it difficult to disassemble and replace individual cells.

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In addition, simply swapping a cell and closing the battery is not enough. It is necessary to ensure compatibility among components, maintain the cooling system, and guarantee that all connections and safety systems continue to function properly.

Geely’s solution? Quick battery swapping

For Li Shufu, one of the solutions lies in battery swapping at dedicated stations. In this system, the vehicle receives a charged battery within minutes, without relying on the same battery throughout its entire lifespan. When it deteriorates, it can be removed without affecting the vehicle’s use.

This solution aligns with the agreement Geely signed with Nio in September. Under that agreement, Geely plans to acquire a 30% stake in Nio Power, the division responsible for the battery swapping infrastructure of the Chinese brand.

The two companies aim to develop common technologies and standards, as well as a shared network of battery swap stations. But this solution also faces its own obstacles. It requires compatible vehicles, standardized batteries, and an infrastructure wide enough to justify the investment.