How Long Will Your EV’s Battery Last?

Let’s start with some good news for EV drivers. Your big electric battery is likely to outlive its warranty — and maybe even the life of your car.  Most EV battery warranties typically cover eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first.

In December 2024 scientists from the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center published a study that found that, when batteries are charged the way EV owners typically do, they could last 40% longer than has been predicted by typical testing protocols. The study used metrics based on a mix of heavy traffic, long highway trips, short city trips and extensive times where the car is parked. This compares with the standard industry test practice that uses a constant rate of discharge.

The eight-year number was not picked out of the air — it is based on a federal regulation that stipulates the minimum warranty for batteries. But details do matter, as different companies have different thresholds for allowable battery degradation during the warranty period. It’s worth checking out the detail of what is covered and what exclusions might apply.

SLAC-Stanford researchers used four different test cycles of charging and discharging, finding the dynamic cycling a typical EV owner uses enhances the lifetime of a lithium-ion battery rather than degrading it. The study reinforces the thoughts of many in the EV industry that anecdotal reports of battery failures after the end of warranty are likely anomalies rather than indicators of something that should be a main concern of an EV owner.

Another voice

Recurrent, a company that monitors battery life in EVs, came to a similar conclusion from its study of data from more than 25,000 connected vehicles in its database. From its 2024 research the company said it was difficult to predict the lifespan of a car’s battery because there are so many variables. But based on its database, Recurrent found most battery replacements were done in the oldest EVs, dating from 2011-13. The group’s lead researcher said the expectation is that a modern lithium-ion battery lifespan is close to 200,000 miles. She also estimated that, with declining battery prices, the cost of a replacement battery 2030 will be 30% of what it was in 2020.

Then there’s cold weather

Leave it to the Norwegians to test the impact of cold weather on EV range. Norway has plenty of both elements — EVs and cold weather. The Norwegian Automobile Federation and Motor magazine tested 31 models in temperatures than varied from zero to -10^o Celsius. They drove the cars until they ran out of charge. The Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 3 both went the furthest, but the loss of range compared to official estimates varied from 4-30%. Of the models available in the U.S., the Polestar 3 lost the least range (only 5%) and the Mini Countryman lost 11%. Most models lost 15-25% of their nominal range.

What would you like to know?

I’ve now been writing about EVs and electrified vehicles for several months in Currents. There is so much information out there and so many subjects, I wanted to ask what you, the Currents readers, want to hear about? Do you have questions about EVs or what life with an EV is like? Send your questions and story suggestions to kmcoates@gmail.com.    

About the author 

Michael Coates is an internationally recognized expert on automotive environmental issues. He publishes the Clean Fleet Report (https://cleanfleetreport.com/), writes for a variety of publications and also consults in the automotive industry.