A new report from Croatia-based EV Clinic is challenging assumptions about the quality of Chinese-made electric vehicle batteries. The independent service center, a leading specialist in EV diagnostics and repair, has concluded that batteries manufactured in China exhibit substantially higher failure rates and reduced longevity compared to those produced in Europe or the United States. The findings, based on years of hands-on experience and recently formalized into a research report, are already impacting the company’s business model and prompting a re-evaluation of long-term EV ownership costs.
November 30, 2025, 12:33
PiataAuto.md Editorial Staff
EV Clinic, a Croatian service center, has emerged as a leading expert in diagnosing complex issues within electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrids, and hybrid vehicles. Recognized as one of the first facilities globally to specialize in these automotive technologies, EV Clinic has amassed considerable experience and developed solutions for recurring problems across a range of electric car models – from Tesla to Audi and Mercedes-Benz – often stemming from manufacturer shortcomings. The company recently established its own research and development center to proactively identify and engineer parts addressing chronic issues. Consequently, its findings are highly regarded within the automotive industry, with even Rimac occasionally seeking its engineering expertise. Yesterday, EV Clinic released a report based on years of diagnostic and repair experience, concluding that Chinese-manufactured batteries do not outperform, and are in fact inferior to, those produced in Europe or the United States, challenging the perception of technological advancement in the Chinese EV market.
To facilitate a direct comparison, the Croatian team focused on the Tesla Model 3, which can be equipped with batteries sourced from both the U.S. and China. One Chinese battery option is manufactured by LGES Nanjing. According to EV Clinic, the Chinese batteries exhibited a significantly higher failure and problem rate compared to those produced by Panasonic NCA.
In 90% of cases involving LGES Nanjing batteries sent for inspection, the units were deemed irreparable due to extensive degradation of the cells within the modules, exceeding economically viable repair thresholds.
The issue isn’t typically isolated to a single faulty cell. More often, a substantial number of cells exhibit high internal resistance. For example, within a 46-cell module, technicians frequently discovered 15 cells with internal resistance exceeding 100 ohms, indicating severe degradation, while the remaining 30 cells typically showed resistance above 50 ohms.
This widespread deviation also impacts adjacent cell groups within parallel connections. Even if the 15 most problematic cells were replaced, the remaining cells are highly likely to fail in the near future, rendering repairs impractical as they only provide a short-term fix.
Even replacing an entire module doesn’t guarantee long-term reliability. The report indicates that if a battery has already exhibited significant deviations before triggering alarms, imbalances likely exist within the remaining modules, meaning a driver shouldn’t expect to travel at least 100,000 km without further issues – a common expectation with Western-made battery repairs.
A new Panasonic battery cell, manufactured in Western countries, typically displays 10 ohms of resistance, or minimal degradation, and reaches 28 ohms when nearing failure. In contrast, a Chinese cell often starts at 28 ohms and degrades to 50-100 ohms.
Based on these findings, EV Clinic asserts that the notion of superior Chinese battery technology is a myth, and that these batteries are demonstrably inferior and have a shorter lifespan. The company states that the most durable and long-lasting batteries currently available are produced in Europe by LG Chem and Samsung SDI, and in the U.S. by Panasonic, including those manufactured in collaboration with Tesla.
The Croatian team notes that Chinese manufacturers excel primarily in Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries, but even these present challenges. BYD’s Blade batteries, widely used, are virtually irreparable due to the difficulty of extracting individual cells and the extensive degradation affecting surrounding cells. Consequently, buyers of BYD models anticipating advanced battery technology may face unexpected repair limitations.
Previously, EV Clinic offered free diagnostics, as repairs were often feasible and the diagnostic cost was included. However, the influx of vehicles with Chinese batteries – with a 90% rate of irreparable damage – has led to wasted technician time. The company estimates a loss of 20,000 euros in unpaid labor costs at its Zagreb facility alone.
As a result, EV Clinic has implemented a non-refundable diagnostic fee of 1,200 euros. This fee is waived only if a repair is possible. Repairs, when feasible, average 5,500 euros excluding taxes, while a complete battery replacement with a Western-made unit costs 8,000 euros.
EV Clinic’s conclusion is clear: the perception of Chinese batteries and EVs as a technological marvel is inaccurate. The surge of Chinese vehicles entering the European market will likely lead to increased repair demands in independent service centers, exposing the true extent of their longevity issues, the company warns.
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