Contrary to common fears about electric vehicle battery degradation, a new study indicates that EVs maintain a significant portion of their original range over time. Recurrent, a Seattle-based tech company specializing in EV battery tracking, found that the average EV retains 97% of its range after three years of ownership and 95% after five years. This data was derived from monitoring over 30,000 privately owned electric vehicles, covering more than $1 billion miles, with owners granting Recurrent access to their vehicle manufacturer's connectivity accounts.
To put this into perspective, an EV initially capable of 300 miles of range is expected to still offer 291 miles after three years and $285 miles after five years. Even vehicles identified as "worst performing" in Recurrent's dataset are projected to retain 283 miles after three years and 271 miles after five. This robust performance is largely attributed to manufacturers' strategies, such as releasing reserved battery capacity and using over-the-air software updates to recalibrate range algorithms as batteries age.
Several EV brands demonstrate particularly strong range retention, with Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Rivian showing no apparent range loss even after five years. This is largely due to these automakers implementing software solutions that strategically release battery capacity as needed, ensuring a consistent range experience for drivers. Nissan also performs well, especially when excluding early 2011-2014 Leaf models known for battery issues.
Conversely, some brands like BMW and Jaguar show slightly faster-than-average range degradation. This is likely because these manufacturers do not actively release reserved battery capacity as the battery ages. Instead, they may use a larger initial battery buffer to enhance overall battery life, allowing the dashboard range to reflect the actual, unmitigated aging of the battery without software adjustments. Volkswagen also falls slightly below the average in range retention. Despite these variations, the overall trend suggests that EV batteries last longer than many initially expected, dispelling earlier concerns about rapid battery decline and expensive replacements.
