A Nissan technician has a humorous play on what may be an EV owner’s deepest fear: battery replacement. His video shows a master technician telling his colleague he may be about to make an expensive mistake by swapping out a high-voltage battery pack when the work order only called for a replacement 12-volt battery. Nick Pichirilo (@nickpichirilo), a Nissan master tech based in Miami, posted the moment on TikTok, which has since racked up over 1.1 million views. The $62,500 Battery Mistake The video opens with Pichirilo approaching a co-worker who has a vehicle up on a floor jack. On the shop floor is a large EV battery pack, the kind that, according to industry data from Recurrent, can cost between $5,000 and $20,000 to replace, depending on the vehicle—although prices are coming down over time. "Yo, how much longer for this battery? The customer is waiting," Pichirilo asks his co-worker. "What do you mean?" the co-worker responds, seemingly confused. "Brother, the 12-volt battery," Pichirilo replies, delivering the punchline. A text overlay on the screen sets up the conflict, "Master Tech Replaces Wrong Battery." Pichirilo’s caption poses the question on everyone’s mind: "Is this Guy Cooked?" ‘There’s At Least 12 Volts In There’ One commenter, dies4l, offered a hypothetical customer reaction to the repair, posting, "Why is my battery replacement $62,500?!" Another viewer, Mike DeLong, dryly wrote, "There’s at least 12 volts in there." User .5x114.3 replied, "maybe 13," while Mr. Index added, "plus or minus 380V," a reference to the high voltages in EV batteries. Most mainstream EV batteries use a 400-volt architecture, while newer high-performance models get up to 800 volts. Why Do Electric Cars Even Have Two Batteries? Some viewers wondered why EVs still need a traditional 12-volt auto battery. "The 12v is for the ‘ignition,’" explained commenter Jacob, using air quotes because when you start an EV, ideally, absolutely nothing will catch fire. User Crazy Phizik offered more details, posting, "EV cars use 12v battery to ‘turn on the switch’ that will allow the HV battery to engage and start distributing power. It is made for safety purposes and to not drain the HV during the night." According to InsideEVs, the 12-volt battery powers the same low-voltage systems found in conventional vehicle accessories, including the radio, A/C vents, and USB ports. It also does the job of "bootstrapping" the high-voltage system when the driver starts the car. The main battery pack is electrically isolated when the vehicle is off for safety reasons, and the 12-volt system activates the switches that bring it online. Without a functioning 12-volt battery, the EV won’t start. As commenter murl33 put it: "Because it’s easier and safer to have a small battery for turning the car on. Why would you risk damage to a $10-20k battery pack by instantly turning it on when you can let a $100 battery turn on instead?" Is It Real? Some viewers questioned whether the scenario actually happened or was staged for comedic effect. User SzCoD raised a valid point: "Nah because no way you have a full pack on hand unless you’re replacing a pack." Indeed, dealerships don’t typically keep EV battery packs lying around their shops just in case. They’re usually ordered one at a time for specific repairs because of the high cost of keeping them as inventory. Others noticed the absence of the safety equipment that would usually accompany high-voltage battery repairs. User drivewithdade observed: "Good to see someone using their invisible ppe." The video definitely has the vibe of a skit, but whether or not it captures a genuine shop mishap or a bit, the joke lands because EV battery replacement costs can be staggering. Battery Replacement: The Real Cost Difference While prices vary significantly by vehicle and manufacturer, NerdWallet reports that high-voltage battery packs typically cost $5,000 to $20,000 for most EVs, with labor adding $1,000 to $3,000 more. For luxury vehicles like the Tesla Model S, replacement costs can reach $15,000 to $22,000, depending on size. By contrast, a 12-volt battery replacement usually costs $100 to $300, including labor, with most standard batteries running at $120 to $250 installed. The clip serves as a humorous reminder that in the age of electric vehicles, it’s good to specify exactly which battery needs replacing. Motor1 reached out to Nick Pichirilo via TikTok direct message for comment. We'll update this if he responds. We want your opinion! What would you like to see on Motor1.com? Take our 3 minute survey. - The Motor1.com Team