You Won't Believe How Long Electric Car Batteries Really Last

How long do electric car batteries last? Near the top of EV shoppers' questions is how long will the battery last? Short answer: Longer than most electric car buyers will own their vehicles.

If you've kept a cellphone or laptop long enough, we all have experienced a weak or limited battery charge. Over time, battery cells lose the ability to hold as much charge as when they were brand-new. But how long do electric car batteries last, and what steps can you take to slow the degradation?

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[loyalopposition-us]

Too hot, too cold, too humid ...wow, that pretty much describes every place you could live in the USA. No place is ideal for battery longevity.

[northerngunner]

I drove my 30 year old gas powered car today and it ran perfectly .

[auntbarbara]

Ive been recharging my cars at the Shell station since 1982 with ZERO loss of range.
Ive yet to wear out a gas tank.

[jamierpm]

I’m an auto tech with my own shop. My parts salesman’s got a gm EV last summer. This winter it was at the dealership for months due to battery and charging problems in the cold. So imagine if that was you trying to get to work but the car is always broken.

[Graymnm]

In 1000 years no one will care whether or not anyone used a plastic or a paper straw

[mchume]

My Mustang has lasted 60 years so far, and my Falcon is 62 years old.

[jtkrpm]

Imagine if a gasoline tank got smaller the more you refuel.

[mikefoehr]

I bet when the battery catches fire, that really shortens its life

[robertwright]

As an RC pilot that has been using large LIPO batteries for years, most batteries of this type start to lose their edge and longevity after a couple of years. My coyote F150 is 12 years old and has 350, 000+ miles and still runs like the day I bought it new. Can't argue with success.

[vevenaneathna]

14 year old ev with 140k miles on it. zero range degradation, actually get 150% of the epa rated ev range now. zero repairs. its still on its 2nd set of tires, first set of brakes. its been plugged in almost every day of its life. people are so misinformed.

[tartartar]

So, to summarize:
Don't charge above 80% because it's bad for the battery.
Don't discharge below 20% because it's bad the battery.
Don't accelerate too fast because it's bad for the battery.
If your vehicle started with 400 mile range you are expected to only utilize 60% of that regularly (240 miles), expect 3%~ battery degradation per year, so after 10 years you can expect about 170 miles of regular range.
I have 2 vehicles over 20 years old, if these were electric and started with 400 M range their max range now would be 160 but your only supposed to use 60% of that to save the battery so under 100 miles of range for regular use.

Yep electric cars are totally the future....

[mrcet]

There are many reasons why EV batteries last longer than a phone battery. The most important ones are:

The phrase “Lithium-ion battery” is kinda like the term, “wine”: There are many different kinds. Cell phones generally use LCO (Lithium Cobalt-Oxide) or Lithium-polymer chemistries, which are optimized for density and cost, but not longevity. EVs instead, mostly, use NMC (Nickel, Manganese, Cobalt) or LFP (Lithium Iron-Phosphate), which are much more optimized for longevity.

Unlike cell-phone batteries, EV batteries, used properly, are rarely charged nor discharged fully or even close to fully. They are rarely even dis/charged to the “charging margins” that the manufacturer hides from you (i.e., a “100% charge” is really a bit less). EV batteries, used properly, are rarely charged above “80%, ” which is really more like 75%.

Other than the LEAF, almost all EV batteries have liquid-cooling, and temperature-management in general, systems that prevent them from overheating, which is what does the most permanent damage.

Most people use their phones “all the time” — many hours per day — whereas EVs are typically only used for an hour or so per day.

[georgemouse]

My 28yo Z3 can still take a full tank with no depreciation in mileage. With the added bonus of it not exploding in the night.😁

[eli-he]

I have a 4.8 kilowatt home solar system with 6 ×12 v lead acid batteries . From this i charge my EV, my Scooter and run my house. Save a lot of money.

[TheAutomotiveReview]

Lauren, Another fantastic topic which consumers should be aware of not only for EV Buyers but for those considering a EV. The Recycling aspect of EV Batteries is a major consideration in our heavily disposable society. Also the crash protection of passengers is another topic which consumers are interested about when considering purchasing or leasing an EV. The incidents of EV fires in a crash or spontaneous combustion of EV batteries is another topic which consumers also wrestle with in the choices of a new vehicle.

[toddlong]

My girls Prius battery lasted 12 years, $ 6, 000 for a refurbished one, or 9, 000 for a new one

[jstar]

My 6 year old Tesla Model 3 long range has 90k miles. I charge at home overnight at 25 amps typically to 80% which is around 210 miles of range. In the 6 years I have owned it it pretty much hasn't lost any range. It never said the 315 miles of range due to how I drive it, it calculates range based on your driving habits. It gets 50 miles less range then what it the EPA stated 315 so do the math. Its never changed in the 6 years I have owned it. I have never had any maintenance done on it other then tires, its on its third set and they are brand new. I have only changed the 12v battery at a little over year 4, Tesla came to my house and replaced it for me for $116 and hauled off the old battery to boot. The car is awesome, super fast, drives itself 90% of the time, I get updates several times a year that adds features it didn't come with when I bough it. Now that its paid for and I have free overnight charging with Tesla energy I drive for free other then insurance and tires once in a blue moon. Not sure what anyone expects from a vehicle but driving for pretty much free now is crazy cool. Also never having to stop and get gas is the best thing ever, if you don't know, you don't know. Imagine getting in your vehicle every morning and you have over 3/4 of a tank of gas, every morning. If and when the battery does die, I will probably just look for a used low milage one since the re-sale is so low. With the fuel savings and all though its a great option. Yeah you guys on here saying you have a X year old vehicle that still drives, I have a couple of old cars too but they suck to drive, lets be honest, yeah they get the job done but old crap sucks to drive. A Tesla is a blast to drive. I'm about cheap, safe and fun to drive vehicles. My F250 diesel is like driving a school bus. Its great to pull my RV but not a daily driver in any way shape or form. EVs are the future like it or not, you just haven't given it a chance. They don't do everything great but for commuting to work and back there is nothing better.

[johnoneill]

What I like most about battery EVs is the severe depreciation, making a near new one more affordable. e.g. In Australia, a 12 month old BMW i5 dealer demonstrator with under 2000 miles on it might ask 40% less than a new one. Then the haggling starts. Battery life is less of a concern here than the US, because 90% of our population lives in cities with moderate climates. Sparsely populated places where we have extremes (tropical areas and deserts) remain the home of diesel 4x4s. They have a lot of ground clearance, that no EV has due to the 500-600Kg battery pack. 4x4s also have twice the range of any BEV, essential in remote areas.

[JohnnyAloha]

So, a car with a rated range of say 300 miles is for 100% to zero so if you limit it to 20-80% then your range is only 160. Then figure in real world (not ideal) you get say 80% of the rated range so now 128 miles. A few years later it’s down to 115. This matches the experience of most electric car owners I know.

[libation]

I live in upstate NY. My 2008 Jeep Liberty with 44, 000 miles is on its 3rd battery; the total cost was 400 dollars. 17 years old and running fine. I don't need to worry about reducing the heat or not using the wipers in the winter like the stupid EV's. When the gas gage reads 1/2 of a tank I fill it up. Plus I'm not concerned about burning my garage down.
There is zero market in western NY for a used EV knowing the cost to replace the battery is not sensible.