Never mind degradation, batteries will outlast EVs typically

• A study found the typical EV battery degrades 1.8% per 12 months
• Which means EV batteries could last over 20 years, or longer than the EV itself
• Further reduction in degradation could help assure more second uses
  

Battery degradation could be a concern for potential electric vehicle owners, but latest data indicates most batteries will outlast the EVs they’re installed in.

The information comes from the “Taking Charge” report released earlier this 12 months by Geotab, an organization that sells telematics systems and services, primarily to fleet firms. Geotab said it based its findings on data from 10,000 EVs operating in North America and Europe.

Evaluation of that data showed average battery degradation of 1.8% per 12 months, in line with Geotab, which noted that batteries could last 20 years or more at that rate. Some vehicles performed even higher, with estimated battery degradation of lower than 1% per 12 months.

Each numbers are improvements from just a couple of years ago. In 2019, Geotab saw average annual battery degradation rate of two.3% from its sample, although that decreased to 1.6% under ideal climate conditions and charging patterns.

The report underscores that higher EV use doesn’t suggest higher degradation, but more fast-charging might. Geotab noted a correlation between greater DC fast-charging use and faster-than-average battery degradation—especially for vehicles in hotter climates. Owners are sometimes cautioned about frequent fast charging for that reason, although 2023 evaluation by battery-data firm Recurrent showed Teslas performed higher on this regard.

Similarly, previous evaluation from Recurrent showed that EV batteries degrade faster in hot weather, but owners can take steps to stop that, equivalent to parking in a garage or within the shade, in addition to leaving the battery half charged in hot weather. Any degradation from hot weather can be unlikely to depart people stuck in EVs.

Chevrolet EVs at a Tesla Supercharger station

It is also possible that battery degradation may very well be reduced even further with different practices. One study found that initial high-power charging on the factory could significantly extend EV battery life.

The slow rate of battery degradation observed in EVs already on the road should give fleet managers more confidence in electrification, Geotab says. In its report, the corporate estimates that 75% of sunshine industrial vehicles may very well be replaced by comparable EVs today, and an EV could provide cost savings of $15,900 per vehicle over its life.

That also potentially leaves more room for second-life uses equivalent to energy storage for solar, wind, grid-balancing and other clean-energy solutions.