The battery of the Lynk & Co 01 PHEV ages faster than expected. Internal short circuits occur regularly. This leads to loss of power and problems with charging. The result is a greatly reduced electric driving range and unreliable performance of the hybrid system. Below you will find the main causes. You will also read how to recognise and tackle these problems.
What are the known battery problems?
The Lynk & Co 01 PHEV has a plug-in hybrid battery with a gross capacity of 17.6 kWh, of which 14.1 kWh is net usable. In real life the model rarely achieves the stated electric range of 55 to 75 kilometres. In cold weather the range drops to 42 to 50 kilometres. In warm weather you will manage a maximum of 60 kilometres.
In addition to the high-voltage battery, the Lynk & Co 01 struggles with a vulnerable 12‑volt starter battery. This often runs flat after two to three days of standing still. Parasitic current draw in the system causes starting problems. The warranty on this battery is only six months under the wear-and-tear policy, and replacement costs around 312 euros.
Owners also report that the charging flap regularly sticks or malfunctions in cold weather, making charging more difficult. This problem mainly occurs at temperatures below freezing. It can lead to damage to the flap mechanism.
How do I recognise a worn battery?
You will notice battery degradation most quickly through a decreasing electric driving range. After one to two years of intensive use, owners report a noticeable drop in capacity. This mainly happens with lots of short city trips or irregular charging. In real life the range can then drop from 60 to 40 kilometres or less.
Symptoms of a worn or faulty battery are:
- The electric range drops faster than the trip computer indicates
- The battery does not charge fully, even after a complete charging cycle
- The system switches over to the petrol engine prematurely
- Error messages on the dashboard about the high-voltage system
- Loss of power while driving on electric power
Internal short circuits often cause sudden failures. The battery then no longer charges. Or the battery supplies insufficient power to the electric motor. In serious cases the system switches off the high-voltage battery completely. This is a safety measure.
What causes rapid battery ageing?
Temperature fluctuations have a major impact on the battery’s service life. In winter consumption rises to 28.8 kWh per 100 kilometres. In summer it drops to 23.5 kWh per 100 kilometres. These differences place uneven stress on the battery cells. This accelerates degradation.
Your charging behaviour also plays a role. Fully charging takes three to seven hours, depending on your socket or charging point. Models from August 2022 onwards support faster AC charging at 6.6 kW. Regularly charging to 100 per cent speeds up cell wear. Discharging the battery until it is almost empty also accelerates wear.
Lots of short trips increase the load on the battery. Frequent acceleration also increases the load. In addition, the use of on-board electronics such as climate control, heating and infotainment causes extra energy loss. As a result, the battery has to work harder.
Symptoms of internal battery short circuit
An internal short circuit in the high-voltage battery is a serious defect. This defect often manifests itself suddenly. You will notice this from a complete loss of electric drive or a warning light indicating that the high-voltage system has been switched off.
Other signs are:
- The car only starts on the petrol engine
- Irregular energy flow while driving
- Error codes related to battery voltage or cell temperature
- The battery overheats during normal use
- The charging process stops prematurely with an error message
If you suspect a short circuit, stop charging immediately. Also stop driving straight away. Have the vehicle checked by a specialist workshop. Short circuits can create a fire hazard.
‘ Capacity loss due to ageing is often not covered. ’
What does battery replacement cost and when is it necessary?
Complete replacement of the high-voltage battery is an expensive repair. Lynk & Co does not publish official prices. Costs for comparable PHEV batteries are generally between 8,000 and 15,000 euros, including labour. The exact price depends on the availability of parts. It also depends on whether you choose a new or a reconditioned battery.
Replacement is required when capacity has fallen below 70 per cent of the original value. Replacement is also necessary in the case of irreparable defects such as internal short circuits. Owners with more than 100,000 kilometres report that they still have 80 to 90 per cent remaining capacity with conscientious use. This indicates that replacement is not always necessary within the first few years.
The battery is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Check the conditions carefully. Many warranties only cover defects that are not the result of normal wear and tear. Capacity loss due to ageing is often not covered. It is only covered if the loss progresses extremely quickly.
Tips to slow down battery ageing
Charging consciously extends the life of the battery. Driving consciously also helps. Keep the amount of energy in the battery between 20 and 80 per cent for daily use. This prevents extreme stress on the cells and limits degradation.
The app offers a function to preheat the car and battery. Use this function to bring the battery up to temperature before you set off. This is especially important in winter. Ideally, park the car in a warm place to minimise temperature shocks. Avoid leaving the car standing for long periods with an empty battery. Also avoid leaving it standing for long periods with a full battery.
Charge regularly. This prevents the battery from becoming completely empty. Use a domestic socket overnight for a slow charging cycle of seven hours. Or use a charging point for faster charging in three to five hours. This ensures a more stable energy supply. Fast charging at high charging capacities is less stable.
Check the voltage of the 12‑volt battery monthly. Use a trickle charger if the car will be stationary for three days or longer. This prevents deep discharges. Deep discharges damage the starter battery. They also damage the battery management system – the electronics that control and protect the battery. Have software updates carried out. These ensure better control and protection of the battery.
What should you look out for with a used Lynk & Co 01 PHEV?
Test the electric range thoroughly during a test drive. Electric range is the distance you can cover using electric power only. Fully charge the battery and drive at least 40 kilometres on electric power. Check whether the range matches your expectations. Pay attention to how the car switches between electric driving. Also pay attention to how the car switches to hybrid driving.
Look for models from August 2022 onwards. These models support faster charging stations. They charge at 6.6 kW AC – a charging speed that uses ordinary mains power. Check the charging flap for signs of damage or wear. Test whether it opens and closes smoothly. Ask about the service history. Also ask about any battery-related repairs.
Have the 12‑volt battery tested. This battery often causes problems. Replacement is expensive. Check whether there are any fault codes stored in the system. These may relate to the high-voltage battery. They may also relate to the charging system. During the test drive, watch out for warning lights indicating problems with the battery or the charging system.
You will find much more information about common problems with Lynk & Co models on the Carnews website. You will also find maintenance advice. In addition, you will find real-world experiences from owners. Discover what other points of attention there are and how to get the best out of your car.
Frequently asked questions
You will mainly recognise early battery ageing from a clearly decreasing electric driving range under comparable conditions (for example, where you first managed about 50–60 km, this then becomes structurally much lower). Also watch for highly fluctuating consumption (kWh/100 km) without changes in driving style or weather conditions. Possible defects manifest themselves as charging problems (car does not fully charge or stops charging prematurely), error messages about the hybrid/high-voltage system or the 12V battery repeatedly running flat after a short standstill. If you notice one or more of these signs, have a diagnosis or battery health check carried out via the dealer.
Battery degradation in the Lynk & Co 01 PHEV causes the usable electric capacity to decrease, so the electric driving range gradually falls (for example from around 60 km to clearly lower values after years of use). With more degradation the petrol engine has to assist more often, which increases fuel consumption and limits the electric performance (such as purely electric acceleration and driving at higher speeds). This can also become noticeable in cold weather, where the range drops even faster due to the combination of temperature and ageing. When selling second-hand, a noticeably lower electric range than originally stated generally reduces the residual value, because buyers prefer a younger or less worn battery.
Yes, by keeping the battery as much as possible between roughly 20% and 80%, you extend its service life; preferably only charge again when it is (for example) around 20–30% and avoid leaving it at 100% for long periods. Rather charge slowly (at home or at an AC charging point) than as fast as possible, and do not leave the car standing for long periods with an (almost) empty battery. Drive as smoothly as possible, limit high speeds and hard acceleration in electric mode, and use preheating/preconditioning where possible while the car is still plugged in. Also check and maintain the 12V battery and charging flap properly, because problems with these can indirectly lead to battery and charging issues.
Common causes of ‘battery defects’ in the Lynk & Co 01 PHEV are ageing and capacity loss of the high-voltage battery due to frequent (full) charging cycles and temperature fluctuations, as well as a rapidly discharging 12V battery due to parasitic drain and long periods of inactivity. These problems are made worse by frequent short trips, lots of city traffic, cold conditions and routinely charging to 100%. You can minimise them by charging the car regularly but not constantly to 100% (preferably around 20–80%), connecting the car to a trickle charger or using it more often if it will stand still for long periods, and preconditioning the battery and parking the car in frost-free conditions as much as possible. In addition, software updates, checking the charging flap and a calm driving style (less hard acceleration and avoiding high speeds) help to limit wear and defects on the battery.
The high-voltage battery of the Lynk & Co 01 PHEV is covered by the manufacturer’s drivetrain warranty with a term of 8 years or 160,000 km (whichever comes first), usually with a minimum remaining capacity of around 70% as a threshold for goodwill or replacement. The 12V battery, by contrast, only has 6 months’ warranty as a wear part. Outside the warranty, replacement of the high-voltage battery on PHEVs in this class is roughly estimated in the range from several thousand to well over €10,000, depending on labour, availability and whether refurbishment or partial replacement is possible. Specific fixed prices for complete battery replacement on the Lynk & Co 01 PHEV are generally not made public by the manufacturer/dealers and must be requested on a case-by-case basis.