Battery Degradation & "BMU Reset" Masking
SeriousEngineThe traction battery naturally loses capacity over time. A major concern is the "BMU Reset" where a technician or seller resets the Battery Management Unit, forcing it to report 100% health (State of Health). This "masks" the actual degradation until the car relearns the true capacity over several weeks.
Most affected: All PHEV models
Typical symptoms
- •Suddenly dropping range after a few weeks of ownership
- •Inconsistent EV range
- •Petrol engine starting even when battery shows charge
What to inspect before you buy
- ✓Use "PHEV Watchdog" and an OBDII dongle to check actual State of Health (SoH)
- ✓Check for a suspiciously high health percentage on high-mileage cars
- ✓Ask for a history of any BMU resets