What is the expected lifespan of an electric vehicle battery?
This seems like a simple question, but the electric vehicle (EV) industry has found it surprisingly difficult to answer, due to the relatively short time EVs have been on the market and the rapidly evolving technology.
Most experts agree that electric vehicle batteries lose about 2% of their capacity each year on average — meaning the batteries store less and less energy over time.
EV batteries and their warranty period
Typically, an electric vehicle battery warranty covers eight years or 160,000 kilometers (100,000 miles), but the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States predicts that more advanced batteries in new vehicles could actually last between 12 and 15 years in temperate climates.
ELNexus Tip: An EV battery warranty does not guarantee that degradation will not occur. Instead, it guarantees the minimum capacity the battery will have at the end of the warranty period (as a percentage of its original capacity).
Possible impacts on battery life
Complicating matters, most battery longevity estimates are based on laboratory simulations that wear down batteries through constant charge and discharge cycles.
A recent research paper from Stanford University looked at the impact on EV lithium-ion batteries when this method was replaced with dynamic charging, which better mimics real-world conditions.
Over the two-year study period, dynamic charging resulted in 38% more charge cycles than constant charging. The researchers concluded that the average EV battery's lifespan could be up to 314,000 kilometers (195,000 miles) longer than previously estimated.
Real-world conditions and stressors for batteries
Real-world conditions also introduce stressors that strain battery health, like extreme temperatures, but there are ways to minimize wear and tear and extend battery life. Here are a few of our favorite tips:
1. Maintain charge at optimal levels
EV batteries wear out faster when they have to make a steep climb from a near-empty charge to a full charge.
To maintain battery health, EV manufacturers recommend maintaining a minimum charge of 20-30% and reaching a maximum of 80%-100%, depending on battery technology.
Your vehicle's default settings may recommend a charging limit to adhere to.
2. Extend your driving range
To reduce the need to charge to 100%, try energy-saving strategies that extend your EV's range—the distance it can travel before it needs a charge.
From reducing speed to minimizing drag, there are many things you can do to get the most out of every charge.
3. Prepare your battery
Hot and cold temperatures affect batteries. Charging takes longer, range may be reduced, and excessive exposure to heat can accelerate battery degradation.
The battery thermal management system uses heating and cooling functions to "prepare the battery," gently bringing the battery cells to a safe temperature before charging and driving.
Systems vary depending on the EV model, so research the best options for your climate before making a purchase.
ELNexus Tip: Keep your battery level away from 100% so you can use regenerative braking, which charges the battery through recycled kinetic energy.
4. Minimize fast DC charging
DC fast charging stations offer extremely fast and convenient charging when you're on the go, but experts have long warned that excessive charging with high-voltage current can shorten your battery's life.
In 2024, a study by Recurrent attempted to confirm this advice by looking at data on 13,000 Tesla cars in the United States to find a link between fast charging and range loss.
To the researchers' surprise, no statistically significant difference in range degradation was found between cars fast-charged more than 70% of the time compared to those fast-charged 30% of the time.
Most of the cars in the study data were launched in 2018 or later, so the results do not capture the longer-term effects of DC fast charging.
Until more research emerges, you may want to limit fast charging to times when speed is essential and justifies the extra cost.
