Introduction
A single Hyundai Ioniq 5 reportedly covered 666,255 kilometers in roughly three and a half years. That distance would intimidate many conventional cars, let alone an electric crossover that spends its life juggling charging stops, traffic, weather, and driver habits. The headline detail is the battery story. The car received a high voltage battery replacement around the 580,000 kilometer mark.
Everything else looks like what you would expect from a hard working electric vehicle: steady tire and suspension wear, long brake life because regenerative braking handles most deceleration, and the typical cabin aging that comes from being used every single day. This article unpacks what that sort of use looks like in the real world. You will see the math behind the distance, a realistic picture of charging routines, what parts tend to last, what usually needs attention, a simple cost framework, and a set of practical habits any driver can copy to stretch the life of an electric car.
By the Numbers: Making Sense of 666,255 Km
Large numbers feel abstract until you bring them down to daily reality. Here is the trip in plain figures.
- Total distance: 666,255 kilometers, which is about 414,000 miles.
- Time in service: about 3.5 years, or roughly 42 months.
- Average per day: about 522 kilometers per day across the whole period.
- Average per week: about 3,661 kilometers.
- Average per month: about 15,863 kilometers.
Those averages are relentless. At that pace the car is almost certainly working as a long distance commuter, intercity taxi, ride hailing vehicle, corporate shuttle, or delivery support car. The pattern also points to a disciplined charging plan. You would not hit this kind of mileage by improvising every day.
How You Rack Up That Much Distance
High mileage starts with a repeatable routine. A car covering more than five hundred kilometers a day is likely doing one or more of the following.
- Fixed corridor duty: the same two or three cities, out and back, with predictable charging stops at known stations.
- Ride hailing or shuttle use: long airport runs, hotel transfers, or corporate routes where demand is steady and charging can be scheduled.
- Logistics support: parts, documents, or equipment runs that prioritize uptime and use charging windows as planned breaks.
In each scenario, the driver benefits from planning two things: where to charge and how to keep the battery within a healthy state of charge window. With an Ioniq 5, that usually means an overnight or off shift AC top up and one or more fast charge sessions during the workday when the car is warm and traffic allows.
Charging Strategy: The Habits That Make High Mileage Work
The Ioniq 5 is known for very fast DC charging on the right hardware. That capability is a tool, not an excuse to fast charge indiscriminately. The longest lived packs tend to follow a few simple rules.
- Use AC charging as your base: top up during the night or during long breaks. It is slower, gentler, and often cheaper.
- Keep daily operating range between about 10 percent and 80 percent state of charge when you can. Save 100 percent for days when you need the full range and drive soon after reaching it.
- Precondition the battery for DC fast charging if the car supports it. Warmer cells accept charge more efficiently and consistently.
- Cluster high power fast charging to the warm part of the day. Avoid hitting a cold pack with maximum power on a winter morning.
- Do not sit at a very high state of charge in hot weather. Heat plus time at full charge is a stress multiplier.
A car that lives on highways and fast chargers can still last. The key is consistent temperature management, sensible charge targets, and a plan that avoids needless high power top ups.
Battery Health: Why A Replacement Near 580,000 Km Is Reasonable
Battery life is not a single number. It is the outcome of cycle count, temperature exposure, time, and how deep those cycles are. You can estimate what happened here with a simple thought experiment.
- Efficiency assumption: between 16 and 20 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers depending on load, speed, weather, and wheel size.
- Total energy delivered over 666,255 kilometers: roughly 106,600 to 133,250 kilowatt hours.
- Usable battery capacity assumption: roughly 70 to 77 kilowatt hours depending on market and model year.
- Full equivalent cycles estimate: between about 1,380 and 1,900 full charge cycles over the total distance.
Modern lithium ion packs can deliver a very long service life when managed well. Still, once you cross well over one thousand full equivalent cycles, many packs will show noticeable capacity loss. In commercial or high duty use, a battery replacement around the point where real world range no longer supports the schedule is a rational decision. Some owners also choose a replacement when fast charge speeds slow down too much for the route plan.
Three practical notes help frame the replacement.
- Replacement options vary: some markets support module level repairs, others replace the pack as a unit. Pricing, availability, and downtime can differ widely.
- Warranty limits are usually time or distance capped at far less than 580,000 kilometers, so a change at this stage is typically a paid decision unless a separate service agreement is in place.
- A fresh pack resets usable range and often improves charge behavior. Many owners report a car that feels almost new in daily use.
What Else Wears Out: The Non Battery Story
An electric powertrain removes oil changes, timing belts, spark plugs, and a conventional multi speed transmission. High mileage does not remove basic physics. The heavy lifting moves to consumables and chassis parts.
Tires
EVs are heavy and deliver instant torque. Expect more frequent tire changes than a comparable gasoline crossover if you drive aggressively or carry passengers and luggage. Many high mileage operators see anywhere from 25,000 to 45,000 kilometers per set depending on road quality, rotation discipline, alignment, and tire choice. Over 666,000 kilometers, that could mean well over a dozen sets.
Brakes
Regenerative braking does most of the deceleration work. Pads and rotors last far longer than on a conventional car. It is common to see more than 100,000 kilometers per set when regen is used well. In very high mileage service you still schedule inspections because brake fluid ages and hardware can corrode.
Suspension and Steering
Shocks, struts, control arm bushings, ball joints, and tie rod ends carry the weight and absorb bad roads. Replacement intervals vary with road conditions. Several rounds of suspension service across hundreds of thousands of kilometers are normal. If the car sees frequent fast charging stops on rough forecourts and speed breakers, slow speed impacts add up.
Fluids and Filters
There is no engine oil. There are still coolants and reduction gear lubricants that need inspection and occasional replacement according to the service schedule. Cabin filters need regular changes for good air quality. In dusty climates, sooner is better.
Twelve Volt Battery
Most EVs still use a separate low voltage battery to run accessories and boot the main systems. Expect to replace it every few years. A weak low voltage battery can cause odd warnings that mimic bigger problems.
Climate Control Hardware
Heat pump systems and air conditioning compressors work hard in extreme climates. They are generally reliable but not immune to age. If range suddenly drops in winter with the heater on, or if the cabin takes much longer to cool, a professional check is worthwhile.
Drive Unit
The traction motor and single speed reduction gear are robust and need little attention beyond scheduled checks. Noise from bearings or a persistent whine at specific speeds deserves a technician’s ear, but true failures are rare compared with traditional transmissions.
Cost Picture: Energy and Consumables In Plain Math
Energy is the dominant operating cost for most electric cars. You can estimate the total electricity used across 666,255 kilometers with a simple range.
- At 16 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers: about 106,600 kilowatt hours
- At 18 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers: about 119,926 kilowatt hours
- At 20 kilowatt hours per 100 kilometers: about 133,251 kilowatt hours
Multiply by your local electricity rate to understand the bill. Even at moderate rates, the result is usually far below the fuel cost for a similar distance in a gasoline car.
Consumables scale with distance and tire size. Larger wheels often mean pricier tires. Hard use raises the rotation and alignment frequency. Brakes last longer than you think, yet a full service will still appear once or twice at this mileage. Suspension parts will almost certainly be refreshed more than once. Add routine items like wipers, bulbs, and detailing, and you can build a predictable budget.
A battery replacement is the outlier. The price depends on market, pack size, repair versus full replacement, and whether refurbished parts are available. The decision usually turns on uptime. For a car that earns its keep every day, restoring full range and fast charge performance can pay back quickly.
Lessons Any EV Owner Can Apply
You do not need to drive five hundred kilometers per day to benefit from high mileage habits. These practices help any electric car age gracefully.
- Charge with intent: favor AC charging for routine top ups, use DC fast when the schedule demands it.
- Treat the state of charge window as a tool: live in the midrange for everyday use, save a full charge for trips and drive soon after charging to 100 percent.
- Keep the pack happy: precondition for fast charging, avoid parking at very high state of charge in heat, and keep the car’s software updated.
- Respect tires: check pressures often, rotate on time, and fix alignment issues quickly. Rolling resistance and tread health matter for safety and range.
- Service on schedule: coolant checks, cabin filters, brake fluid, suspension inspections, and the low voltage battery all deserve attention.
- Drive smoothly: steady speeds and anticipatory driving help the battery, the brakes, the tires, and your range.
- Log the car’s life: track charging sessions, efficiency, and service. Good records catch trends early and raise resale value.
Myths and Reality After 666,000 Km
- Myth: EV batteries die young.
Reality: with sensible charging and temperature management, packs can deliver very high mileage. - Myth: Fast charging ruins batteries quickly.
Reality: fast charging is a stressor, yet it can be used daily when preconditioning and smart charge targets are part of the plan.
When To Consider a Battery Replacement
A replacement is not a guess. Look for clear signs.
- Real world range no longer supports the daily plan even with schedule changes.
- DC fast charging slows dramatically under the same conditions that used to deliver strong rates.
- Diagnostic tools show capacity loss beyond what the route can tolerate.
- Module faults or persistent errors indicate repair is not practical.
Before greenlighting a pack swap, confirm simple items first. Check the high voltage battery health report, verify the low voltage battery is strong, update software, and test on a familiar charger in familiar weather. If replacement is the answer, ask about module level options, refurbished packs, downtime, and transferable warranties.
Conclusion
Six hundred sixty six thousand kilometers in three and a half years is not a stunt. It is the outcome of routine, planning, and a car that can repeat the same job every day. This Ioniq 5 story shows that a modern electric crossover can be a durable workhorse. The battery needed replacement near 580,000 kilometers, which is a logical step at extreme mileage. The rest is predictable: tires and suspension wear at steady intervals, brakes last longer than in most gasoline cars, and the cabin ages like any vehicle that lives on the road.
If you take anything away, let it be this. Battery life is manageable with simple habits. Charging can be a tool rather than a worry. An electric car that is driven with care, serviced on schedule, and charged with intention can deliver an extraordinary amount of work. Whether your daily loop is fifteen kilometers or five hundred, those same habits will help your EV feel strong, efficient, and ready for the next trip.
