- A used car broker analyzed the battery health of more than 1000 used electric vehicles
- Most vehicles retained 90% or more of the original battery capacity.
- Kia EV6 showed the least degradation of all models tested
A Swedish used car broker has analyzed the battery performance of more than 1,300 used electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to determine whether the age and mileage of used electric models should really deter buyers tempted by the low prices of the second-hand market.
After all, electric vehicles require very little in the way of maintenance, and reducing mechanical parts reduces the risk of wear and tear, meaning battery health (or how much usable capacity the pack has lost over time) is buyers’ top concern.
Used car broker Kvdbil conducted a study (via Inside EVs) that essentially looked at the state of health (SoH) reports of batteries available in a variety of used electric vehicles. It found that eight out of ten cars in its sample of 1,366 vehicles (723 pure electric and 643 plug-in hybrids) retained 90% or more of their originally claimed battery capacity.
Although Kia’s EV6 ranks first statistically, consistently returning a battery SoH result of 90% or higher, the study’s authors stated that battery SoH depends more on climate and overall usage than on a manufacturer’s individual battery technology.
“It’s not really tied to a typical car or a typical car manufacturer. It’s more about wear and tear, that’s our analysis,” said Martin Reinholdsson, head of testing at Kvdbil.
“Age, climate, driving style and charging habits are quite important factors in wear,” he added.
While Kvdbil notes that these “lifestyle” factors are important, it’s also worth noting that Kia was the overall brand with the highest battery health scores, the Kia EV6 and Kia e-Niro were the models with the highest SoH, and the Kia Sportage and Optima were the plug-in hybrid vehicles with the best battery health.
It’s clear Kia is doing something right.
A healthy second-hand market
Several studies have now confirmed that electric vehicle batteries degrade much more slowly than previously feared.
In fact, an investigation of 8,300 battery health certificates by UK leasing company Arval found an average battery health level of 93%.
Even after driving 124,000 miles, which any used car dealer would consider high mileage, the average remained close to 90%.
Not relying on faster charging plugs, not letting the battery run below 10%, and charging only at 80% can dramatically increase the life of an EV’s battery, points that many prospective owners need education on.
However, these battery SoH studies could help improve the poor residual values suffered by some EV models, particularly those from more premium brands.
If consumer confidence is bolstered by the fact that an electric vehicle can still deliver excellent driving, usable range and maximum charging performance even with thousands of miles driven, it could help shore up used values.
While that’s not great news for those looking for a used EV bargain, it will increase adoption among new car buyers who are currently on the fence and reduce the general anxiety currently felt in the auto industry as a whole.
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