- A study found that the average EV battery degrades 1.8% per year
- That means EV batteries could last 20 years or longer than the EV itself.
- New methods are being found to further reduce degradation.
Battery degradation may be a concern for potential electric vehicle owners, but new data suggests that most batteries will outlast the electric vehicles they are installed in.
The data comes from the “Taking Charge” report released earlier this year by Geotab, a company that sells telematics systems and services primarily to fleet management companies. Geotab said it drew its conclusions from data from 10,000 electric vehicles in operation in North America and Europe.
Analysis of that data shows that the average battery 1.8% annual declineAccording to Geotab, note that the battery can 20 years or more at that rate. Some cars do even better, with estimated battery degradation of less than 1% per year.
Observed EV battery degradation (from Geotab 2024
Both figures are improvements from just a few years ago. In 2019, Geotab saw an average annual battery degradation rate of 2.3% from its sample, though that dropped to 1.6% under ideal climate conditions and charging patterns.
The report highlights that EV usage is higher does not mean higher degradationbut can charge faster. Geotab notes a correlation between increased use of DC fast charging and faster-than-average battery degradation—especially for vehicles in hotter climates. Owners are often cautioned against frequent fast charging for this reason, although a 2023 analysis by battery data firm Recurrent found Teslas perform better on this matter.
Similarly, previous analysis from Recurrent showed that EV batteries degrade faster in hot weatherBut owners can take steps to prevent this, such as parking in a garage or in the shade, and leaving the battery half-charged in hot weather. Any degradation caused by hot weather is unlikely to occur. leave people trapped in tram.
Chevrolet electric car at Tesla supercharger station
It could also be the battery. The recession can be reduced. even further with different practices. One study found that Original factory high power charger can significantly extend EV battery life.
The slow rate of battery degradation seen in EVs already on the road should give fleet managers more confidence in electrification, Geotab said. In its report, the company estimated that 75% of light commercial vehicles could be replaced with EV equivalents today, and that an EV could save $15,900 per vehicle over its lifetime.
