A research discovered the typical EV battery degrades 1.8% per yr
Which means EV batteries might final over 20 years, or longer than the EV itself
New strategies are being discovered to scale back degradation even additional
Battery degradation is usually a concern for potential electrical car house owners, however new information signifies most batteries will outlast the EVs they’re put in in.
The info comes from the “Taking Cost” report launched earlier this yr by Geotab, an organization that sells telematics methods and providers, primarily to fleet corporations. Geotab mentioned it based mostly its findings on information from 10,000 EVs working in North America and Europe.
Evaluation of that information confirmed common battery degradation of 1.8% per yr, in line with Geotab, which famous that batteries might final 20 years or extra at that charge. Some autos carried out even higher, with estimated battery degradation of lower than 1% per yr.
Noticed EV battery degradation (from 2024 Geotab
Each numbers are enhancements from only a few years in the past. In 2019, Geotab noticed common annual battery degradation charge of two.3% from its pattern, though that decreased to 1.6% underneath perfect local weather situations and charging patterns.
The report underscores that larger EV use does not imply larger degradation, however extra fast-charging may. Geotab famous a correlation between higher DC fast-charging use and faster-than-average battery degradation—particularly for autos in hotter climates. Homeowners are sometimes cautioned about frequent quick charging because of this, though 2023 evaluation by battery-data agency Recurrent confirmed Teslas carried out higher on this regard.
Equally, earlier evaluation from Recurrent confirmed that EV batteries degrade sooner in sizzling climate, however house owners can take steps to stop that, reminiscent of parking in a storage or within the shade, in addition to leaving the battery half charged in sizzling climate. Any degradation from sizzling climate can also be unlikely to go away folks caught in EVs.
Chevrolet EVs at a Tesla Supercharger station
It is also potential that battery degradation could possibly be diminished even additional with completely different practices. One research discovered that preliminary high-power charging on the manufacturing facility might considerably lengthen EV battery life.
The sluggish charge of battery degradation noticed in EVs already on the highway ought to give fleet managers extra confidence in electrification, Geotab says. In its report, the corporate estimates that 75% of sunshine business autos could possibly be changed by comparable EVs at present, and an EV might present value financial savings of $15,900 per car over its life.