- New data from battery analytics company Recurrent has been released
- It shows that the average electric vehicle retains 95% of its original battery capacity.
- Battery replacement rates have dropped significantly in recent years
A new study from battery analytics company Recurrent found that the average electric vehicle retains up to 95% of its original driving ability after five years on the road.
Although early electric vehicle makers feared that batteries would degrade to the point of needing to be replaced, data now shows that the cells are significantly outperforming initial predictions.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, the findings highlight that advances in battery chemistry, thermal management systems and vehicle software have significantly improved battery longevity, allowing electric vehicles to efficiently travel the same type of distances as their ICE counterparts without the need for battery replacement.
Recurring statistics indicate that approximately one in 12 electric vehicles built between 2011 and 2016 required battery replacement. For electric vehicles produced from 2022 onwards, this figure has fallen dramatically to just 0.3%.
While the report notes that frequent high-power DC charging can accelerate battery degradation compared to regular charging from slower household outlets, Digital Trends reveals that Geotab data shows that frequently charged high-power batteries still retain about 89.7% of their original capacity after several years.
As a result, electric vehicle owners find that their batteries retain more capacity, even after very high mileage, than initially expected.
The Wall Street Journal report cites a U.K.-based electric vehicle dealer whose five-year-old Tesla Model 3 has covered 247,000 miles, but the estimated range is only a few miles short of the official WLTP figure when new.
Analysis: Used EVs require transparent battery health information
Despite several recent reports dispelling the myth that electric vehicle batteries degrade to the point of becoming almost useless after a few years, consumer confidence remains low on this topic.
Digital Trends says a 2025 survey by AutoPacific found that fears about costly battery replacements remain the main reason many potential buyers avoid electric vehicles in the United States.
It is therefore extremely important that used electric vehicles are advertised with a clear and transparent battery condition certificate which allows buyers to quickly and easily assess the impact of any degradation on the maximum range.
A number of used car dealers are already signed up to independently certified electric vehicle battery diagnostic programs, such as those from Generational and Dekra in the UK, but many are calling for an industry-wide standard.
A 2025 Startline Finance survey found that nine out of 10 used car dealers said the used electric car sector needs an industry-wide program for battery health testing.
Additionally, 78% believe battery health is a key consideration for most electric car buyers.
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