Survey based on 1.6 billion kilometers driven indicates that degradation of electric car batteries is less than expected by consumers
A survey carried out by the consultancy Recurrent revealed that the autonomy of electric car batteries remains significantly more stable over time than common sense suggests. The study, based on the analysis of more than 1.6 billion kilometers driven in real conditions, indicates that the wear and tear of the components is less pronounced than feared by potential buyers.
According to the data, electric vehicles preserve, on average, 97% of the original range after three years of use and about 95% after five years. In practice, a car capable of running 482 km when new would still maintain an approximate range of 459 km after half a decade of circulation.
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The results tend to reduce consumer insecurity in the transition to electric mobility, since battery longevity is one of the main factors in vehicle depreciation. The finding of a slow degradation favors the appreciation of the used car market, reducing the financial risk in resale.
The survey highlights that 68% of models manufactured in 2023 still exceed official autonomy estimates, even considering variables such as driving style and natural aging. Brands such as Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Rivian are among the best performers in retaining charge after five years.
The efficiency is attributed to technological advancements such as new cell-to-pack architectures and improved thermal systems. In addition, automakers use a battery reserve margin that is released gradually through over-the-air updates to compensate for the physical loss of capacity over time.
