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smart #1 battery size, warranty, recalls and health check (UK)
Published · Last updated · based on 9 sourced smart #1 data points and 20 sources
The smart #1 compact SUV has been sold in the UK since 2023 with a 66 kWh NMC battery, and since 2025 also as the #1 Pure with a 49 kWh LFP battery. This guide covers which pack a car has, what is known about battery recalls, what smart's 8-year, 125,000-mile warranty covers, how far to trust the car's own battery figure, and how a test result compares with the 5 UK dealer test certificates we found.
All figures with method and date: used smart #1 battery data. Going to a viewing? Make a printable list of questions for the seller.
1. Battery size: 66 kWh NMC or 49 kWh LFP
| Version | Usable battery | Nominal | Chemistry and cells | Available to order (EV Database, UK) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Pro+ (MY23-26), rear-wheel drive | 62.0 kWh | 66.0 kWh | NMC, 107 prismatic cells (107s1p) | since September 2023 | EV Database |
| #1 Premium (MY23), rear-wheel drive | 62.0 kWh | 66.0 kWh | same pack | since November 2023 | EV Database |
| #1 Brabus (MY23-26), four-wheel drive | 62.0 kWh | 66.0 kWh | same pack | since September 2023 | EV Database |
| #1 Pure (MY24), rear-wheel drive | 47.0 kWh | 49.0 kWh | LFP, 112 prismatic cells (112s1p) | since May 2025 | EV Database |
EV Database UK listings, checked 2026-11-04. Earlier UK trims and launch editions aren't all listed separately; the battery figure on the V5C, the advert or a test certificate tells you which pack a car has.
- The two packs behave differently. The 49 kWh Pure uses LFP cells, with 7.4 kW AC and up to 130 kW DC charging (EV Database); the 66 kWh packs use NMC cells (EV Database). LFP and NMC packs age differently. Read more on LFP vs NMC battery ageing (MG4 data).
- All 5 UK certificates we found are for the 66 kWh pack. We have no test results for the 49 kWh Pure yet.
2. Check for recalls
- UK: DVSA's recall file, which we re-downloaded on 2026-11-04, lists one recall for the #1: R/2024/443 (30/04/2025, smart ref TBR24003-2), the rear seat belt buckle, for 2,051 #1s (and 443 #3s) built 22/06/2022 – 10/12/2024. It had no high-voltage battery recall for the #1 (DVSA).
- China: in March 2026 smart recalled 16,072 #1s built 12 August 2022 – 19 October 2023 (plus 2,145 #3s), because the internal resistance of some battery cells may rise abnormally, which in extreme cases could lead to thermal runaway. Cars are checked in the workshop or by remote diagnostics and the battery pack is replaced free if needed. The recall covers cars sold in China (CnEVPost). We found no statement from smart UK on whether UK cars are affected.
- One UK owner report: on a smart owners' forum, the owner of a 2024 UK #1 wrote in 2025 that the dealer replaced the high-voltage battery under a service action called "TBA24005 HV Battery Replacement". The forum's admin described it as a service measure covered by the battery warranty, not a recall (smart-emotion.de forum). This is one owner's account (n=1), not an official notice.
- Run the free GOV.UK recall check on the registration (GOV.UK). Ask a smart service partner to check the VIN for open recalls and service actions, and ask the seller for the service history, including any battery work.
3. Check the battery warranty
- smart UK covers the high-voltage battery for 8 years or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first. That's a longer mileage limit than the usual 100,000 miles (smart UK Automotive Ltd).
- If the battery's state of health falls below 70% of the health it had when the car was delivered, you are entitled to a replacement in line with the manufacturer's standards, based on the car's wear, age, mileage and condition. The figure must come from a battery energy content measurement by a smart Authorised Service Partner (smart UK Automotive Ltd).
- Other high-voltage core components, such as the drive motor and control units, are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. The battery warranty doesn't apply to damage from improper use, handling (especially charging) or maintenance, or from an accident. The general vehicle warranty is 3 years with unlimited mileage (smart UK Automotive Ltd).
- Count the 8 years from first registration (on the V5C): a car first registered in 2023 is covered until 2031, unless it has passed 125,000 miles. Our battery warranty checker works out the time and mileage left.
4. Get a battery reading you can trust
- On all 5 UK AVILOO certificates that also print the car's own figure (from its battery management system, BMS), the car's own figure was higher on 5 of 5, by 0.9–1.7 points (for example 99.0% vs AVILOO 97.3% on the highest-mileage car). Treat the car's own figure as a slightly optimistic guide.
- Owner and buyer reports on young cars have been close to 100% (100.0% at 1,800 km, 99.7% at 16,000 km, 99.5% at 27,500 km) (Forum Automobile Propre, smart-1-forum.de, smart-1-forum.de).
- AVILOO lists the smart #1 in its test coverage (AVILOO GmbH). An independent test (AVILOO GmbH) gives a figure you can compare with the table below. UK options and prices: UK battery test comparison. To read the result: certificate guide.
5. Compare the result with other #1s
- The 5 UK dealer certificates (≈1,807–30,876 miles, all 66 kWh) read 97.3%–99.1%. The highest-mileage car (30,876 miles) had 97.3%.
- A prospective buyer in Germany posted an AVILOO result of 97.4% for a #1 Premium about 3 years old (mileage not clearly stated) (Reddit r/Elektroautos).
- There is no large independent dataset for the #1, so these single cars are the best comparison we have. All have low mileage (the highest is about 31,000 miles), so they don't tell you how the battery will look at 80,000 miles.
- As a rule of thumb for all EVs, ADAC expects at least 92% at 50,000 km, 88% at 100,000 km, 84% at 150,000 km, 80% at 200,000 km (ADAC). A young #1 reading clearly below the UK certificates above is worth questioning. Get it tested again or ask a smart service partner to check it.
- Compare the #1 with similar cars on the battery degradation chart, or see the Chinese EV battery guide for other China-built models.
Every smart #1 result we have (n=1 each)
| Car | Mileage | SoH | Sample | Measured by | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 Premium 66 kWh (04/2024), one car | 1,800 km ≈ 1,118 mi | 100.0% | n=1 | Dealer diagnostic tool SoH, reported by buyer | Forum Automobile Propre (2024-08-21) Owner/buyer-reported, n=1, 2024-08-21. Nearly new car – shows the starting point, not ageing. |
| #1 66 kWh, UK car (cert 5224) | 2,908 km ≈ 1,807 mi | 99.1% car's own figure: 100.0% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | Car360 (2026-01-30) Single car (n=1). Published mileage 1,807 miles. Car's own BMS SoH on the same certificate: 100%. |
| #1 66 kWh, UK car (cert 5752) | 3,100 km ≈ 1,926 mi | 98.5% car's own figure: 100.0% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | Car360 (2026-03-09) Single car (n=1). Published mileage 1,926 miles. Car's own BMS SoH on the same certificate: 100%. |
| #1 66 kWh, UK car (cert 6122) | 8,015 km ≈ 4,980 mi | 98.4% car's own figure: 100.0% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | Car360 (2026-03-26) Single car (n=1). Published mileage 4,980 miles. Car's own BMS SoH on the same certificate: 100%. |
| #1, one German car | 16,000 km ≈ 9,942 mi | 99.7% | n=1 | Owner-reported SoH (car/app/OBD reading) | smart-1-forum.de (2026-03-11) Owner-reported, n=1, 2026-03-11. BMS SoH 99.72% read with a Bluetooth OBD dongle after 34 months and 16,000 km, mainly AC charging. |
| #1 66 kWh, UK car (cert 5246) | 16,193 km ≈ 10,062 mi | 98.3% car's own figure: 100.0% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | Car360 (2026-02-02) Single car (n=1). Published mileage 10,062 miles. Car's own BMS SoH on the same certificate: 100%. |
| #1 Premium 66 kWh, one car | 27,500 km ≈ 17,088 mi | 99.5% | n=1 | Owner-reported approx. capacity loss (~0.5%) | smart-1-forum.de (2025-11-12) Owner-reported, n=1, 2025-11-12: "about 0.5% loss" after 1.5 years and 27,500 km; value is approximate. |
| #1 66 kWh, UK car | 49,690 km ≈ 30,876 mi | 97.3% car's own figure: 99.0% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | Car360 (2026-03-10) Single car (n=1). Published mileage 30,876 miles. Car's own BMS SoH on the same certificate: 99%. |
| #1 Premium, one used car (Germany) | after 3 years (mileage not stated) | 97.4% | n=1 | AVILOO certificate SoH, reported by buyer | Reddit r/Elektroautos (2026-09-01) Buyer-reported, n=1, 2026-09-01. About 3 years old; mileage not clearly stated, so plotted by age only. |
5 UK dealer AVILOO certificates and 4 owner- or buyer-reported figures. Single cars show the spread, not an average. Every row is also on the smart #1 data page.
6. Battery replacement cost (UK)
We have not found a verifiable, dated UK price for a new smart #1 battery, so we don't quote one. Within 8 years and 125,000 miles, a battery that falls below 70% of its health at delivery is covered by smart (smart UK Automotive Ltd). If you need a figure for an out-of-warranty car, get a written quote from a smart service partner. General UK figures are in our EV battery replacement cost guide.
Also see: BYD Atto 3 battery check · MG4 LFP vs NMC · general used-EV battery checklist · battery problem after buying: your rights (UK) · all models compared.
Sources used on this page
20 sources · 9 data points: 3 from non-AVILOO methods, 6 measured with AVILOO tests.
- Single-car tests (5 sources, 5 data points): Car360, [2], [3], [4], [5]
- Owner-reported (5 sources, 4 data points): smart-emotion.de forum, Forum Automobile Propre, smart-1-forum.de, [2], Reddit r/Elektroautos
- Manufacturer (1 source): smart UK Automotive Ltd
- Other (specs, guides, news, surveys) (9 sources): EV Database, [2], [3], DVSA, GOV.UK, CnEVPost, AVILOO GmbH, [2], ADAC
Owner-reported and listing values are single cars (n=1) read from the car, an app or an OBD tool – useful examples, not averages. Range-retention figures (Recurrent) measure range, not capacity. Full details: methodology & all sources.
We are not paid by the battery-test providers mentioned on this page. Links marked "paid link" in the "Useful products and services" box are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Get this specific car tested
We are not paid by these test providers. How we make money.
Model averages can't tell you about the car in front of you. An independent battery test (typically a short OBD plug-in test, some remote) gives an SoH figure and often a certificate you can use when negotiating.
- AVILOO – Independent OBD-based battery test (FLASH / Premium) with certificate; available via partners in the UK and EU.
- Generational – UK OBD plug-in test with certificate (SoH, range, remaining warranty, cell balance); sold through dealers and independent mobile testers.
- Moba – Postal OBD kit: you run the test yourself and post the box back for a digital battery certificate (Europe – check vehicle support and delivery country).
Prices change – check the provider's site. Provider names are used for identification only. Compare all UK options and prices: EV battery health check UK.
Useful products and services
- Charging cable: check that the car comes with its charging cable(s) at the viewing. If one is missing, replacements are sold separately: Type 2 charging cables at EV King paid link.
- Tyres: check tread depth and wear at the viewing. To price replacements, search by the size printed on the tyre wall: car tyres at Tyres UK paid link.
- Leasing instead of buying used (UK): if you'd rather not take on an older battery, you can compare electric car lease deals: EV lease deals at Leasing.com paid link.
- Parts and tools: wiper blades, bulbs, 12V batteries and tools for the car you buy: GSF Car Parts paid link (UK).
Some links are paid links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes the battery data we show (disclosure).
FAQ
What battery does a used smart #1 have?
On EV Database's UK listings, the #1 Pro+, Premium and Brabus have a 66 kWh NMC battery (62 kWh usable), made of 107 prismatic cells. The #1 Pure, on sale in the UK since May 2025, has a 49 kWh LFP battery (47 kWh usable). Test certificates usually print "66 kWh" or "49 kWh".
What is the smart #1 battery warranty in the UK?
smart UK covers the high-voltage battery for 8 years or 125,000 miles, whichever comes first. If the battery's state of health falls below 70% of what it was when the car was delivered, you are entitled to a replacement. The figure must be measured by a smart Authorised Service Partner. Other high-voltage parts such as the motor are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles.
Has the smart #1 had a battery recall?
Not in the UK so far: DVSA's recall file of 4 November 2026 lists only a rear seat belt buckle recall for the #1 (R/2024/443). In China, smart recalled 16,072 #1s built between August 2022 and October 2023 in March 2026, because some battery cells may develop abnormally high internal resistance; that recall covers cars sold in China. Ask a smart service partner to check the VIN for any open campaigns.
How much does a smart #1 battery degrade?
There is no large independent dataset for the #1 yet. The 5 UK dealer AVILOO certificates we found read 97.3%–99.1% at 1,807–30,876 miles, and owner reports from Germany are similar. These are single, mostly young cars, not an average.
How much does a smart #1 battery replacement cost in the UK?
We have not found a verifiable, dated UK price for a new smart #1 battery, so we do not quote one. Within 8 years and 125,000 miles, a battery that falls below 70% of its health at delivery is covered by smart. For any car, get a written quote from a smart service partner if you need one.
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We currently publish 9 sourced data points for the Smart #1 (last updated 2026-11-04).
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