How much do electric car batteries degrade?
6 days ago
- #battery-degradation
- #sustainability
- #electric-vehicles
- Electric car batteries typically retain more than 80% of their initial capacity after 200,000 miles.
- Battery degradation occurs through calendar aging (1-2% per year) and cyclical aging (from charge/discharge cycles).
- Degradation is fastest in the first 20,000 miles, then slows to a linear rate.
- Tesla reports only 12-15% capacity loss after 200,000 miles for their models.
- Early Nissan LEAFs had degradation issues due to lack of active cooling, but most modern EVs use liquid cooling.
- Studies show only 1.5% of EVs needed battery replacements, with most retaining over 80% capacity even at high mileage.
- Laboratory models often overestimate degradation rates compared to real-world data.
- Manufacturers offer long warranties (8-10 years, 100,000+ miles), often covering batteries below 70% capacity.
- Tips to reduce degradation: avoid extreme temperatures, extreme charge states, and frequent fast charging.
- Battery technology is improving, with newer models expected to degrade even slower than current ones.