Ask any self-respecting EV hater what they have against the implementation of the electric car, and one of the points is almost certain to be "EV batteries cost too much." The numbers don't lie, though, and batteries have been getting vastly more affordable. Since 2008, battery packs have decreased in price by 87%, meaning EVs are becoming more affordable while ICE cars are heading in the opposite direction. But the battery pack still remains one of the most expensive components of an EV. A Reddit user by the name of Terrh apparently received a quote for a Ford Mustang Mach-E battery to the tune of an exorbitant $42,624.22 (USD), or $54,685.80 Canadian. However, doing some digging to find prices directly from Ford, we found that the actual price from US dealerships was much less and that prices vary based on the battery specifications and the dealer they're ordered from. Still, the Ford Mustang Mach-E's batteries can cost you as much as Ford's new compact truck, the Maverick.

Lakeland Ford in Florida will sell you the standard range battery pack for a whopping $18,514.13 while the extended range battery costs $23,648.94 - nearly the same price as the Shelby GT500's supercharged V8. The 2022 Ford Maverick starts at $19,995 for the XL Hybrid. Other dealers are cheaper, like Village Ford in Dearborn, Michigan who will sell you the extended range battery for $20,811.07, excluding an extra $5,000 core charge and delivery should you not have the battery replaced at a Ford dealership of your choice. That's the on-sale price, too, so it's below MSRP.

What that means is that, with a starting MSRP of $43,895 for the Mach-E Select, the battery is worth nearly half of the overall price.

But why would you need to have the battery replaced? Before the EV haters get in on the conversation, this is not a regular occurrence. While in China, it has become a somewhat common occurrence to run battery swaps in a few minutes instead of waiting hours to charge up, for most EVs, the only reason they would need to be changed would be damage to the battery, either by incorrect charging, direct damage, or a defect in the battery itself. Battery packs are covered by an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty, too, so any defects mean the battery is replaced at no cost to the user. Modern batteries are capable of lasting longer than most people own their cars, too, so the likelihood of you needing to foot such a bill in your tenure as the first owner is highly unlikely. Still, it's scary to see how much one simple piece of the car costs.