LG Chem -LG-E63 cell discussion

Hi all,
So, I have been reading all of the forums for about 1 month now and wanted to start contributing.
Here is my story (in the hopes that it sheds some light on what is going on in the KONA battery world).
I purchased a 2021 KONA electric (manufactured in Nov 2020), the battery was also manufactured in Nov 2020). I have all of the details and can provide.
Purchased the car on March 8, 2021. Local dealership. Awesome car, love it. Efficient and power when you want. Better than any car I have ever owned.
Installed a level 2 charger at home and typically charge it to 80% when it gets down to 30%. No issues there, save the battery cycles etc. My wife has done several road trips with the vehicle (BTW I am never with her when this happens). Same destination each time, about 600km round trip. I always charge it to 100% on the level 2 charger the night before. Wife stops at the DC fast charger that is about 350km away and charges to 80%.
On the first trip, my wife noticed a significant range drop at around 45km from home (on the return). Range started to drop like a rock. She managed to get home with about 10% battery and the system telling her to charge immediately or something like that. No worries at this point, I wasn't there, but assured her that range estimates can vary and might change and are only estimates.
On the second trip (left the house at 100%), she stopped at the same DC fast charger at about 350km out. Charged to 80%. That is when things started to get weird. She called because she couldn't undo the charger from the car. It had completed to 80% but wouldn't release the plug. I walked her thru the unlock doors (which she reminded me she knew and had done several times before calling me). but the strange thing is that the car would not "unlock" with her fob (bad battery?). Lucky for her, the car was "unlocked" with the doors open and the windows down. I told her to try hitting the "auto unlock" button on the lower LHS while I fumbled with the bluelink app to unlock the car. After some combination of this, she was able to unplug the charger and return home. No issues on range this time.
So I plug the car into the Level 2 charger and think nothing of it.
In the morning, I find the manual where it tells you how to unplug manually by popping the hood open. I say "Honey come in the garage and let me show you so that you don't get freaked out next time..." Go into the garage, now my fob won't unlock the doors.....strange, get into the car, start fumbling with auto unlock and finally the car unplugs from my level 2 charger. At this point, I am about to pop the hood and show her what is going on, but I decide to start the car....Well, it won't start. Dash lights up with errors and battery warnings....nothing. Over and over again.
I will come to find out that my 2021 Kona preferred which I have driven for 3 months is completely "bricked".
Call roadside assistance and then come and take it away to the dealership on a flat deck. Very sad moment for me as the neighbors watch and the tow guy asks me how I am liking my electric car....
3 days later, the dealership calls. The were on with tech support gugus in Markham ON. Ran all the tests (twice). Traction battery is toast.
Now I am waiting for a replacement battery and have been researching this up the wazoo....
Seems to me that I have an "HL green power battery". H stands for Hyundai, L stands for LG. Yup, it is an LG battery. Made after Mar 3, 2020 so that the anodes should have had the extra insulation and the BMS should have been updated.
It is my understanding that a replacement battery is likely to be a "refurbished" battery from a previous Kona. I seems that Hyundai/LG will take the battery and test it, then replace the bad "module" not to be confused with what I am calling the battery (which has 5 modules).
So...brand new 2021 should have had all of the issues resolved....battery is done. Waiting for a "refurb" and lord knows how long it will be.
BTW. I have fully documented all the software version/dates/labels etc before it got on the tow truck. So I can tell someone knowledgeable everything about it.
Does this sound like a continuation of the Kona 2019-2020 issue going forward? ie. They haven't solved the problem....have they?
 
NS KONA Elec said:
Hi all,
So, I have been reading all of the forums for about 1 month now and wanted to start contributing.
Here is my story (in the hopes that it sheds some light on what is going on in the KONA battery world).
I purchased a 2021 KONA electric (manufactured in Nov 2020), the battery was also manufactured in Nov 2020). I have all of the details and can provide.
Purchased the car on March 8, 2021. Local dealership. Awesome car, love it. Efficient and power when you want. Better than any car I have ever owned.
Installed a level 2 charger at home and typically charge it to 80% when it gets down to 30%. No issues there, save the battery cycles etc. My wife has done several road trips with the vehicle (BTW I am never with her when this happens). Same destination each time, about 600km round trip. I always charge it to 100% on the level 2 charger the night before. Wife stops at the DC fast charger that is about 350km away and charges to 80%.
On the first trip, my wife noticed a significant range drop at around 45km from home (on the return). Range started to drop like a rock. She managed to get home with about 10% battery and the system telling her to charge immediately or something like that. No worries at this point, I wasn't there, but assured her that range estimates can vary and might change and are only estimates.
On the second trip (left the house at 100%), she stopped at the same DC fast charger at about 350km out. Charged to 80%. That is when things started to get weird. She called because she couldn't undo the charger from the car. It had completed to 80% but wouldn't release the plug. I walked her thru the unlock doors (which she reminded me she knew and had done several times before calling me). but the strange thing is that the car would not "unlock" with her fob (bad battery?). Lucky for her, the car was "unlocked" with the doors open and the windows down. I told her to try hitting the "auto unlock" button on the lower LHS while I fumbled with the bluelink app to unlock the car. After some combination of this, she was able to unplug the charger and return home. No issues on range this time.
So I plug the car into the Level 2 charger and think nothing of it.
In the morning, I find the manual where it tells you how to unplug manually by popping the hood open. I say "Honey come in the garage and let me show you so that you don't get freaked out next time..." Go into the garage, now my fob won't unlock the doors.....strange, get into the car, start fumbling with auto unlock and finally the car unplugs from my level 2 charger. At this point, I am about to pop the hood and show her what is going on, but I decide to start the car....Well, it won't start. Dash lights up with errors and battery warnings....nothing. Over and over again.
I will come to find out that my 2021 Kona preferred which I have driven for 3 months is completely "bricked".
Call roadside assistance and then come and take it away to the dealership on a flat deck. Very sad moment for me as the neighbors watch and the tow guy asks me how I am liking my electric car....
3 days later, the dealership calls. The were on with tech support gugus in Markham ON. Ran all the tests (twice). Traction battery is toast.
Now I am waiting for a replacement battery and have been researching this up the wazoo....
Seems to me that I have an "HL green power battery". H stands for Hyundai, L stands for LG. Yup, it is an LG battery. Made after Mar 3, 2020 so that the anodes should have had the extra insulation and the BMS should have been updated.
It is my understanding that a replacement battery is likely to be a "refurbished" battery from a previous Kona. I seems that Hyundai/LG will take the battery and test it, then replace the bad "module" not to be confused with what I am calling the battery (which has 5 modules).
So...brand new 2021 should have had all of the issues resolved....battery is done. Waiting for a "refurb" and lord knows how long it will be.
BTW. I have fully documented all the software version/dates/labels etc before it got on the tow truck. So I can tell someone knowledgeable everything about it.
Does this sound like a continuation of the Kona 2019-2020 issue going forward? ie. They haven't solved the problem....have they?
Click to expand...
Quite the first post, this is the second post recall affected battery so far (on this forum). Hopefully Hyundai will replace the pack in short order as they now are replacing in Canada on a somewhat regular basis, and have the logistics working after long delays.
I have had to use the orange button (pull handle) to mechanically disconnect the charge head located under the front hood to the right of the hood latch once or twice after encountering an error with the DC charger. The auto unlock button on the left side of the dash will only unlock the connector upon reaching the desired charge level. Sorry to hear about your battery situation, good luck and keep us informed.
 
People usually go to internet forums when they have problems with their cars.
Infant mortality component failures on relatively new car is not something new for the car industry. That is why warranties are for.
 
Hyundai Canada has expedited my battery. Hopefully it will be here shortly. Apparently the dealership that I purchased from is unable to do the removal/install. They have the "crane" to remove the battery from the box, but not the "lift table". So they are sending my 2021 Kona to another dealership in Halifax for the install that has all the necessary equipment and tools.

For those interested, some detailed info on my vehicle.
2021 KONA Electric. Manufactured Nov/2020
Dash info:

Software in dash:
Model: OSAE.D1AMC.CA
SW Ver: OSEV20.CAN.SOP.V115.200806
Firmware Ver: OSEV20.CAN.292.200805.MICOM.D

Original Battery info:
HMC P/N 37501-K4054
BMS ROM ID:6980 2020/11/04

Dash warning: Check electric vehicle system
upload_2021-8-23_16-3-4.webp

upload_2021-8-23_16-4-30.webp

Is this a fluke or sign of a more serious problem with the batteries affecting all Kona electric model years?
 
navguy12 said:
Can you post a link to that particular post please? Thanks. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Sure:
https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...canadian-kona-owners.11201/page-2#post-137081
and
https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...canadian-kona-owners.11201/page-3#post-137575
Correction, I guess this is the 3rd:(
I might add my car has never been charged to 100% (even from the dealer new - 40%) , 90% at the most a few times as there is more than enough range for my requirements. Maybe I am a little over cautious. I do DC charge a about half the time, and never let it sit at more than 82% for more than a couple of days.
 
electriceddy said:
Sure:
https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...canadian-kona-owners.11201/page-2#post-137081
and
https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...canadian-kona-owners.11201/page-3#post-137575
Correction, I guess this is the 3rd:(
I might add my car has never been charged to 100% (even from the dealer new - 40%) , 90% at the most a few times as there is more than enough range for my requirements. Maybe I am a little over cautious. I do DC charge a about half the time, and never let it sit at more than 82% for more than a couple of days.
Click to expand...
We charge to 90%, then let it run down to under 50%…this lasts about two weeks of normal use.

The car had one “test” DC charge session and I suspect will never have need for another.

If stuff happens, we’ll just deal with it then…won’t worry about it.
 
navguy12 said:
We charge to 90%, then let it run down to under 50%…this lasts about two weeks of normal use.

The car had one “test” DC charge session and I suspect will never have need for another.

If stuff happens, we’ll just deal with it then…won’t worry about it.
Click to expand...
I use DC charging is because it is free and convenient (also saves undo wear and tear for the OBC). Over the last 9 years I have usually used free AC charging near my work and at beaches and parks. When the DC charger starts costing $, I will resort back.:)
 
Last edited:
electriceddy said:
Sure:
https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...canadian-kona-owners.11201/page-2#post-137081
and
https://www.insideevsforum.com/comm...canadian-kona-owners.11201/page-3#post-137575
Correction, I guess this is the 3rd:(
I might add my car has never been charged to 100% (even from the dealer new - 40%) , 90% at the most a few times as there is more than enough range for my requirements. Maybe I am a little over cautious. I do DC charge a about half the time, and never let it sit at more than 82% for more than a couple of days.
Click to expand...
Thanks for sending me the links, I just read all 13 pages, more for background knowledge “just in case…”
 
electriceddy said:
Quite the first post, this is the second post recall affected battery so far (on this forum). Hopefully Hyundai will replace the pack in short order as they now are replacing in Canada on a somewhat regular basis, and have the logistics working after long delays.
I have had to use the orange button (pull handle) to mechanically disconnect the charge head located under the front hood to the right of the hood latch once or twice after encountering an error with the DC charger. The auto unlock button on the left side of the dash will only unlock the connector upon reaching the desired charge level. Sorry to hear about your battery situation, good luck and keep us informed.
Click to expand...

One must be careful about unlocking the charge cable. It should NEVER be forced. I have seen broken clips on charge connectors. I guess they were forced/ripped out. One never knows the damage such action could do the the car. :( When mine is stuck, I pop the hood and use the orange button to release the charge plug.
 
Don't forget to use the unlock on your fob. That has always worked for me and never had to resort to the orange pull button under the hood.
 
electriceddy said:
I use DC charging is because it is free and convenient (also saves undo wear and tear for the OBC). Over the last 9 years I have usually used free AC charging near my work and at beaches and parks. When the DC charger starts costing $, I will resort back.:)
Click to expand...

The free chargers, AC or DC have dried up here in Ontario. I use home AC charging 99% of the time. I usually charge ~50%-80%. When the charge is around 50% I "refill". Otherwise it takes a long time to get to 80 and, even with a new battery, I still have some jitters about charging overnight. I charge this way about 2.5X a week on average.

I charge to 100% at home only before road trips longer than 300km or so. I only use DCFC when on long rips usually charge to 80-90%. The charging process really slows down over 80% and since we are billed by time the DC charging gets less economical.
 
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