The Jaguar I-Pace, which once shone as the world car of 2019, soon went from hero to fool.
Despite its innovative design and early market entry, the electric crossover has been plagued by battery issues, leading to numerous recalls and buybacks. As a result, more and more I-Pace vehicles are ending up in landfills, a stark reminder of the challenges faced by early electric vehicle technology.
The I-Pace's problems are largely due to issues with the batteries supplied to Jaguar by Korea's LG. These batteries were soon found to be prone to thermal overload, which could quickly lead to fires. Jaguar attempted to mitigate the problems with software solutions, including diagnostic tools to detect potentially dangerous battery packs, but their efforts proved insufficient, ultimately leading the company to implement car buyback programs in several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom.
Good old JLR. Only company that could build an eV that isn't reliable (or any more so than the fossil crap they make) or that they can recall and fix.
— eVNewt⚡️🔋🚙 (@newt7215) January 28, 2025
Instead these Jaguar iPace at my local car scrap yard, Charles Trent-recalled, refunded and now to be recycled. 🙄
Are the… pic.twitter.com/YdSPiJUJgg
Recently, images from a British scrapyard surfaced online showing dozens of I-Paces waiting to be destroyed. The cars were once owned by customers but the company apparently bought them and plans to recycle them.
Images recently surfaced online from a UK scrapyard showing dozens of I-Paces awaiting destruction. These vehicles, likely owned by customers but bought back by the company, represent the real impact of the I-Pace’s reliability issues. The sight of these once-promising electric vehicles ending up in landfill underscores the transitory nature of some automotive achievements.
Jaguar is now focusing on its new range of electric vehicles. The recently revealed Type 00 concept previews an electric four-door sedan that is set to go into production later this year. Jaguar aims to give the Type 00 a range of around 700 kilometres. The company is no doubt keen to avoid the battery issues that marred the I-Pace’s reputation and ensure a more successful launch for its new electric vehicle.
The I-Pace story is a cautionary tale for the automotive industry. It highlights the critical importance of battery reliability in electric vehicles and the potential consequences if these issues are not effectively addressed. The transition to electric mobility requires not only innovative design, but also robust engineering and quality control to ensure long-term success.
