The repair bill for the Tesla Model S’ battery comes out to about NT$600,000, which was apparently too much of a sticker shock for an unlucky owner, who looked to an explosive solution, literally.
Although EVs spell a bargain for most with respect to maintenance and fuel costs, battery repairs can be a bit of a sticker shock, as previously mentioned, especially for a Finnish owner of a Model S.
After acquiring a Model S in 2013, Tuomas Katainen was one of the lucky few whose batteries malfunctioned as soon as the eight-year warranty period expired. However, the repair fees quoted by Tesla came out to be an astronomical US$22,000, which is equivalent to NT$600,000. What made the amount especially egregious was the fact that it was approximately the value of the car at that point. In other words, Katainen could spend NT$600,000 to repair his battery and subsequently sell the car for NT$600,000. Flawless doesn’t even begin to describe it.
Rather than wasting time and money, Katainen decided to put this essentially junked car to dramatic purposes. Coincidentally, the most appropriate method for expressing rage, in this particular case, is to blow it up. Katainen found famed YouTuber Pommijatkat, an explosives expert, who strapped 30 kg of explosives (not C4) to said car, subsequently ending its short but brilliant eight years on this earth.
With respect to blowing up the car, there is not much in the way of posterity because the explosion itself is quite comprehensive, leaving no trace behind beyond metal fragments. However, there are lessons to be gleaned even in the aftermath.
First, starting from 2021, more and more Model S batteries will see their warranties expire. Once that happens, maintenance will cost about US$20,000, as previous cases in the US and Europe would suggest. In all said cases, Tesla’s repair mechanism entailed the replacement of the entire battery module, much like how one would have their iPhone battery replaced.
Second, if the warranty on your EV battery expires, regardless of whether it is a Tesla, third-party repair providers are few and far between at the moment. Previously, car owners in the US were relatively fortunately in that they managed to have their batteries repaired for less than a third of the aforementioned price, though the Finnish car owner in question was not as fortunate. As such, repairs for batteries with expired warranties may represent a hidden commercial opportunity much like the current crop of brick-and-mortar smartphone repair shops.
Third, if one does not wish to go the factory repair route when confronted with batteries whose warranties expired, the best solution is definitely not via C4 or other explosives. Rationally speaking, this Model S is a worthy option for those who want to acquire an EV on the cheap. If the owner were to sell said vehicle as one with repair pending, then there is at least some chance for remuneration, albeit a relatively low remuneration. In the worst case scenario, selling the car to the junkyard may also allow one to recoup some pocket change.
▲ Sometimes C4 is not the answer (Source: Komica)
(Image: YouTube screenshot)
