A research on electric cars (EVs), even when significant mileage has been clocked up, shows better performance than expected for older batteries.
In the largest study of its kind so far, the Generational 2025 Battery Performance Index Industry Benchmark Reportexamined more than 8000 electric passenger cars and light commercial vehicles in the UK.
This includes 36 vehicle make-ups and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric vehicles (EV), with an age of zero (brand-new) to 12 years and mileage up to 160,000 miles (257,495km)).
While it did not specify the types of batteries used in all cars surveyed, it found that average battery health was 95 per cent. When new – the State of Health (SoH) – 15 per cent of original capacity.
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The figures show 85 per cent of the original capacity maintained by older EVs aged eight to nine years (the data shows that age is not significantly depleted battery health).
Similarly, it showed high-mileage cars – vehicles that had traveled over 100,000 miles (160,000km) maintained between 95 per cent and 90per cent batteries life.
A study has found that the reduction in mileage did not lead to much longer battery life, with the battery health of younger, high-mileage cars generally better than those of older, low- mile vehicles.
But a well-maintained, 120,000km on its odometer is probably the best buy for ‘an old six-year-old car with only 50,000km in the clock’.
It also showed that most manufacturers’ battery warranties are more than long enough and batteries generally exceed warranty parameters – often exceeding the vehicle life expectancy – so customers have few claims.
In Australia, battery warranties commonly extend to around eight years, with some brands offering up to 10 years.
It said the report ‘defence of battery is no longer the ‘systemic risk’ it was previously described, with battery condition still being the main factor in long-term resale value of used EVs – rather than their readings on an odometer.
| Age (years) | 25th percentile | 50th percentile | 75th percentile |
| — | — | — | — |
| 0-1 | 97.91 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| 1-2 | 97.23 | 100.00 | 100.00 |
| 2-3 | 95.00 | 96.94 | 99.89 |
| 3-4 | 92.98 | 95.17 | 98.19 |
| 4-5 | 91.64 | 96.49 | 96.49 |
| 5-6 | 89.01 | 92.26 | 96.00 |
| 6-7 | 88.13 | 90.75 | 93.50 |
| 7-8 | 87.96 | 90.00 | 93.85 |
| 8-12 | 82.00 | 85.04 | 90.00 |
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