- New data released from battery analysis company Recurrent
- It shows that the average electric vehicle retains 95% of its original battery capacity.
- Battery replacement rates have fallen dramatically in recent years.
A new study from battery analysis company Recurrent has revealed that the average electric vehicle retains up to 95% of its original driving ability after five years on the road.
Although early electric vehicle manufacturers were concerned that battery packs would degrade to the point of needing replacement, data now shows that the cells are dramatically outperforming original predictions.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the findings point to the fact that advances in battery chemistry, thermal management systems and vehicle software have significantly improved battery longevity, allowing electric vehicles to effectively travel the same type of distances as their ICE counterparts without the need to replace the battery pack.
Statistics from Recurrent indicate that approximately one in 12 electric vehicles built between 2011 and 2016 required battery replacements. For electric vehicles produced from 2022 onwards, that figure has dropped sharply to just 0.3 percent.
While the report notes that frequent high-power DC charging can accelerate battery degradation compared to regular charging from slower home outlets, Digital Trends reveals that Geotab data shows that batteries frequently charged at high power still retain about 89.7 percent of their original capacity after several years.
As a result, EV owners are finding that their batteries retain more capacity, even after very high mileage, than originally predicted.
The Wall Street Journal report cites a UK-based electric vehicle dealer whose five-year-old Tesla Model 3 has traveled 247,000 miles, but the estimated range is only a few miles less than the official WLTP figure when new.
Analysis: Used electric vehicles require transparent battery health information
Even though several recent reports dispel the myth that EV batteries degrade to the point of being almost useless after a few years, consumer confidence remains low on the issue.
Digital Trends states that a 2025 survey by AutoPacific found that fears about costly battery replacements remain the main reason many potential buyers avoid electric vehicles in the US.
As such, it is extremely important that used electric vehicles are advertised with a clear and transparent battery health certificate that allows buyers to quickly and easily assess how the maximum range could be affected by any degradation.
Several used car dealers are already enrolled in independently certified EV battery diagnostic programs, such as those from Generational and Dekra in the UK, but many are calling for an industry-wide standard.
A survey conducted by Startline Finance in 2025 found that nine in 10 used car dealers said the used electric car sector needs an industry-wide plan for battery health testing.
In addition to this, 78% believe that battery health is an essential consideration for most electric car buyers.
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