Hey all, we came across an offer for an electric Fiat 500, but it’s been sitting in transport mode for 2 years. I know it’s generally bad for a battery to stay unused for too long, but does the same apply in this case?
If the car was stored correctly, the battery could actually be in better shape than if it had been actively used for 2 years. But if it was stored wrong, it could be completely ruined.
I’d suggest taking the car to an EV mechanic who can check the battery’s health before you commit.
Thanks everyone for your helpful advice! We ended up passing on this one and opted for a different car with moderate usage instead.
If it was stored at the proper state of charge (SOC), it’ll be like a time capsule—perfectly fine. But if it was fully charged and left sitting for two years, there could be some issues. Not necessarily a deal-breaker, but you should expect a big discount if that’s the case.
If the charge was too high or too low for that long, it’s definitely bad for the battery. Plus, sitting still for two years isn’t great for any seals or rubber parts on the car either.
Thomas said:
If the charge was too high or too low for that long, it’s definitely bad for the battery. Plus, sitting still for two years isn’t great for any seals or rubber parts on the car either.
Good points, thanks!
You really need to check the battery health. If the charge was maintained properly, it could be just fine. But if the battery drained during that time, it might be toast.
Jason said:
You really need to check the battery health. If the charge was maintained properly, it could be just fine. But if the battery drained during that time, it might be toast.
Exactly. If it was kept at around 50% charge, it should be good. But if it was left fully charged (100%) for those two years, I wouldn’t go near it.
@zendaya
Agreed. But getting the real story might be tough—it’s easy for sellers to just tell you what you want to hear.