How long do electric car batteries last?

EV batteries require less maintenance

The battery, as well as many other components of an electric vehicle, require far less maintenance than their gasoline counterparts. As there are far fewer moving parts in electric motors compared to ICE engines—over two dozen fewer automotive components—there are fewer parts that could eventually fail or need replacing.

Plus, with fewer fluids, such as engine oil, as well as regenerative braking technology reducing brake wear, there is simply less which EV drivers have to worry about.

This fact alone has got dealers and mechanics worried about shrinking margins on EVs. Servicing and maintenance provide almost half of the average dealership’s income and EVs are also expected to outlive gas vehicles, so many of their clients won’t be upgrading them as often. However, whilst some are worried, Lawrence Burns, the ex-vice president of R&D at General Motors Co says that “fundamentally, this is just a better way to design and engineer a car.”

How long do EV batteries last?

Under current estimates, most EV batteries will last somewhere between 10-20 years before they need to be replaced.

However, according to a survey by Cox Automotive, many potential EV buyers have reservations when it comes to battery life and the costs associated with battery replacement.

For many considering purchasing an electric vehicle, just under half consider the average battery life to be less than 65,000 miles (+- 105,000 kms).

How much does an electric car battery cost?

The aforementioned fears are understandable: the battery pack of an EV is by far the most expensive part of the vehicle and can cost $5,000 on average and even as much as $15,000 per battery in some cases.

It’s important to note here that battery prices have fallen dramatically over the past decade. For example, the average price of a kilowatt-hour—the standard measure of a battery’s price—dropped from $1,160 per kWh in 2010 to just $137 in the past year.

That price is expected to fall to below $100 within three years; universally considered the point that EVs will cost as much as gasoline cars to manufacture.

Does EV charging affect the battery life?

In short, yes. Charging a battery does have an effect on your vehicle’s battery life.

One of the innovations that led to the rise of electric vehicles over the past decade is Lithium-ion batteries. Traditionally, most vehicle batteries were made from ​​lead-acid and only had to start a vehicle’s motor with a short surge of power which would then be recharged as the vehicle drove by an on-board alternator. However, they were not ideal for discharging more than a few percent of their power and are often referred to as SLI batteries (starting, lighting, and ignition).

Comparatively, lithium-ion batteries are designed to handle a much higher density of energy. Both your cell phone and your laptop use lithium-ion batteries and much like the advancement in the technology of both over the past two decades, lithium-ion batteries have increased the potential to use electricity in vehicles. And these advances are only tipped to continue.

EV battery charging best practices

The improvement over the past decades in lithium-ion batteries has been significant. The advances have extended battery life, increased safety, and reduced the weight and price of battery packs. However, like all pieces of technology, if you care for them in the right way, you can extend their longevity and increase your return on investment.

Don’t charge your EV every night

Regardless of whether you’re only topping up the battery by a few percent or charging the vehicle fully, every time your battery charges, you put stress on the battery. As a result, the capacity of the battery is reduced by a fraction. To avoid this compounding over time, you shouldn’t plug your vehicle in every night. If you only charge your vehicle when it’s necessary, and not plugging the vehicle in as soon as you get home, you can extend your battery life.

Stay between 20 and 80 percent charge

Just like you shouldn’t plug your vehicle in every night, you also shouldn’t top it up to 100 percent when you don’t have to. A lithium-ion battery is designed to store large amounts of energy with a charge that ebbs and flows. However, frequently draining the cells too often or filling it up fully can, over time, reduce the battery’s capacity as a whole. The common advice is to stay between 20 and 80 percent charge and never let the battery die completely.

Control the optimal battery state of charge during long storage

Lastly, leaving your EV parked for too long with a full (or empty) battery also contributes to the degradation. To avoid this, if you’re going to spend a significant amount of time away from your vehicle, it’s recommended that you fill it up to somewhere between 25 and 75 percent. There are smart charging stations that can help you with this and make sure that your battery doesn’t go beyond these limits.

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