Explaining How Modern Electric Vehicle Batteries Are Repaired

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - As a modern technology that is increasingly used by the public, electric vehicles still raise a number of questions among consumers, especially about batteries.

Many electric vehicle users, or EVs, worry that repair costs will be very high when a battery fails, because they fear that the entire battery pack must be replaced even if the damage occurs only on a small portion of components.

The battery system of electric vehicles has a fairly complex structure. In modern electric cars, the battery consists of several main components, from cells (cell), to modules, up to the battery pack as a whole.

“Depends on the model. But usually those with a battery pack, the modules inside can be replaced,” Mahaendra told Kompas.com, on Saturday 23 May 2026.

He explained that the battery cell is the smallest energy storage unit. Several cells are then arranged into a module, then a number of modules are combined into one battery pack used by the electric car.

According to Mahaendra, replacing a single battery cell is technically possible, but the process is quite complex and risky if not carried out with the correct procedures. After all, each cell must have balanced characteristics.

“The risks are voltage imbalance, uneven current distribution, overheating, shorter lifespan, and safety risks such as thermal runaway,” said Mahaendra.

For these reasons, many technicians and manufacturers prefer replacing per module rather than just one cell. This method is considered safer and facilitates the process of adjusting capacity as well as the voltage between battery cells.

Meanwhile, in some electric cars with very integrated battery designs, partial repairs are becoming more difficult. One example is cell-to-pack technology like BYD’s blade battery.

“Because blade battery uses cell-to-pack technology without modules, it cannot be repaired per cell. So you have to replace a single pack,” Mahaendra said.