EV Batteries Can Outlast Vehicle Lifespans, Study Shows

EV Batteries Can Outlast Vehicle Lifespans, Study Shows

Posted on October 22, 2024

A new study from Geotab, a fleet management company, reveals that the battery degradation rate in modern electric vehicles (EVs) has significantly improved over the past five years, decreasing by nearly 22%. According to David Savage, Vice President for the UK and Ireland at Geotab, the latest EV models now have batteries that will comfortably last the usable life of the vehicle, without the need for costly replacements. Geotab's findings are based on telematics data from almost 5,000 fleet and private EVs, representing about 1.5 million days of data collection.

The study found that, on average, EV batteries degrade at a rate of just 1.8% per year, compared to the 2.3% annual degradation reported in 2019. In some top-performing vehicles, the rate is as low as 1% per year. This slow rate of battery wear means that even after 20 years, an EV battery could retain around 64% of its original capacity. For instance, a F-150 Lightning Extended Range Battery, originally offering 515 kilometers of range, would still have about 330 km of usable range after two decades, still making it perfectly suitable for daily driving and road trips!

One of the most reassuring aspects of the study is that frequent use does not accelerate battery degradation. In fact, highly driven EVs show no significant decline in battery health, further increasing their value over time. Additionally, modern EV batteries are proving more reliable than the internal combustion drivetrain components they aim to replace, further debunking the myth that EVs suffer from short-lived or unreliable batteries.

Factors such as temperature management and charging habits play a key role in preserving battery health. EVs with active cooling systems, such as the Ford Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning, degrade much slower than those with passive air cooling, like the Nissan Leaf. To prolong battery life, owners should maintain a charge level between 20% and 80% and avoid extreme high or low states of charge. Overall, while battery degradation is inevitable, the study shows that with proper care and improvements in technology, EV batteries are more durable and reliable than ever.