Recently, Chinese new energy vehicle companies have been exposed for the phenomenon of “locking electricity.” Some companies have been accused of compressing quality assurance costs by remotely upgrading through OTA or updating software in stores without the consent of the vehicle owners, altering battery parameters, resulting in reduced battery life and decreased power.
According to the technology news website “Driving China,” “locking electricity” refers to car companies modifying the vehicle’s battery management system parameters without the consent of the owners, limiting the charging limit and power of the power battery through OTA (Over-the-Air) remote upgrades or in-store software updates.
Many vehicle owners have reported that after a nighttime upgrade, the originally claimed 510 kilometers of endurance decreased to less than 300 kilometers, and fast charging times significantly increased. Manufacturers often attribute this to “winter low temperature” or “system optimization.”
On May 9th, as reported by “Fast Technology,” in March 2026, the number of complaints related to OTA locking electricity from various car companies on the national 12315 platform surged by 12,000 within a month, a 273% increase compared to the same period last year.
“Fast Technology” stated that apart from safety concerns, economic interests are also a significant reason for car companies to adopt the method of locking electricity. According to relevant Chinese regulations, within the 8-year or 120,000-kilometer quality assurance period, if the battery degradation exceeds 20%, the car company must provide free replacement services for the owners.
After the “locking electricity,” the usable battery capacity is artificially compressed, reducing the number of charge-discharge cycles, and the apparent degradation rate will also slow down. For car companies with annual sales reaching millions, this practice can save billions of yuan in quality assurance expenses each year, significantly reducing post-sale costs.
“Driving China” also cited industry analysis stating that the reasons for car companies to “lock electricity” are, on the one hand, to compress substantial quality assurance costs and avoid safety risks. On the other hand, it is also not ruled out that locking high-performance modes and then converting them into paid subscriptions for profit considerations.
The related news has sparked extensive public attention. It is worth noting that despite the circulation of a “summons list” related to brands such as NIO, Xpeng, Tesla, and Li Auto online, as of now, official announcements and reports from the Chinese government have not officially named the specific companies involved.