How Long Can Electric Car Batteries Last In 2024

Learn all about EV battery life - INCLUDING how long do electric vehicle batteries last, 6 tips on how to extend electric car battery life and how EV batteries work

EV batteries can already last hundreds of thousands of miles.

An EV batteries has lasted over 400,000 miles - the same distance as 15 times around the Earth – and EVs are still relatively new, so we really don’t yet know how many more miles they will last.

The range of EVs per charge continues to improve as well - many new EV batteries have a range of over 300 miles on a single charge.

The cost of EV batteries has also fallen tremendously - 97% over 30 years. While all indications are that it is very unlikely you’ll need to replace your EV battery even after 10-20 years of ownership, an EV’s battery is still its most expensive part. It’s important to learn how to properly take care of it.

In this article, we explore the importance of temperature control, how driving techniques affect battery life and a big advantage of EVs - regenerative braking

Electric car batteries have been surrounded by misconceptions and misplaced concerns.

We aim to explain how EV batteries work and dispel the myths in our EV Battery FAQ.

 

How Long Can Electric Car Batteries Last


Estimates for how long EV batteries last are at least 200,000 miles. There are reports of EVs already achieving more than 300,000 miles on the original battery.

EV batteries are generally under warranty for 8 years or 100,000 miles, but new EV batteries are lasting much longer. Tesla claims its EV batteries should last up to 500,000 miles. Assuming a gas car would last for 200,000 miles, choosing an EV could be like getting two cars for the price of one.

Tesla is working on a 1 million mile battery and scientists recently proved EV batteries could eventually last 4 million miles. This makes EVs potentially much longer-lasting vehicles than cars with internal combustion engines.

Read on to ensure that your battery will last as long as possible.

 
 

How do Electric Car Batteries Work Anyway?


The Basics of Batteries

To better understand how long an electric car battery can last and how you can extend its life, it’s important to first understand how batteries work.

The battery is at the heart of an electric vehicle - it runs everything, including the electric motor. At a high level, batteries store chemical energy and turn it into electricity.

EVs use batteries that can be recharged. They use chemical reactions that can use electric energy when they’re plugged in to restart the flow of negative-to-positive electrons.

Most EVs on the road today have lithium-ion batteries, similar to those in personal electronics like laptops and cell phones. But EV batteries are different from personal device batteries. They can maintain a charge for an extended amount of time when not being used, with limited self discharge.

They are relatively light-weight compared to the amount of energy they hold, have good high-temperature performance and are low maintenance. More on this later, but most lithium-ion battery parts are also recyclable.

Lithium-ion battery prices have dropped exponentially over the years, thanks largely to technological advancements, and are forecasted to drop even further.

Learn more about how electric vehicles work

 

Regenerative Braking Explained

Regenerative braking is a major advantage of electric battery powered vehicles over gas powered vehicles.

EVs can use the electric motor instead of the brakes to slow the car. This not only saves money on brake pad and rotor maintenance, but also will help recharge the battery while the car is slowing.

Essentially, instead of hard-braking and using conventional friction to slow or stop, your car can recover energy from the vehicle's forward motion. The kinetic energy is used to charge your car.

Usually regenerative braking only adds 10-15% more range with city driving and a negligible amount with highway driving. However, under optimum conditions such as an extended trip downhill, regenerative braking can recharge your vehicle up to 50%.

Over time, this can really add up.

 
 
 
 

An Overview of Battery Degradation

EV battery degradation is when it permanently loses some of its ability to store and deliver power.

For EVs, it’s a process that occurs over a long time. It is impacted mainly by temperature, energy cycles and time.

A battery degrading doesn’t mean an EV is not drivable - it just loses some of its range and charging efficiency. Newer EVs generally have far less annual degradation than early models.

A recent study of data of over 250 million electric car miles showed that “for most EVs, the lithium ion batteries are in quite good shape and only 1.5% have been replaced.”

Generally, only 1-2% range degradation per year was seen. Battery replacements due to excessive degradation are very rare.

In other words, don’t be afraid to enjoy your EV to the fullest because of EV battery life concerns!

How To Extend The Life Of Your EV Battery


The EV battery life of many EVs is already more than enough for most people and greater than the lifetime of many gasoline-powered cars.

Before worrying too much about how to extend your electric vehicle battery life, keep in mind that there are already automatic safeguards in place.

Newer EVs cannot overcharge, over-discharge, or overheat. These built-in protections alone have major impacts on extending EV battery life.

There are still a number of steps you can take though to help extend the life of your lithium-ion EV battery.

While you shouldn’t sweat all this too much, by implementing the strategies below, you can better ensure that your battery provides you with reliable performance for years to come.

Here are 6 tips for maximizing electric car battery life:

 
 

1. Avoiding Deep Discharging – Below 20%

Lithium-ion partial cycles are better than a deep discharge. Not letting the battery level get below 20% is better than a full discharge.

Charging your EV more often rather than just when needed can also keep the battery topped off for any unexpected trips.

2. When Possible, Only Charge Up to 80%

 A slightly less than full charge is ideal for lithium-ion batteries. If your normal daily driving can be covered with this range, then 80% is a good target. For most people, the normal range of EVs is much more than enough for daily commutes.

One additional advantage – this leaves room for storing energy from regenerative braking.

You can generally lower the maximum charging limit for your EV with your EV’s on-board computer or your EV charger.

Check out this guide to extending EV range as needed.

Keep in mind that there are many free places to charge your EV.

3. Try to Keep Your Electric Car at the Right Temperature

Lithium batteries do best in the same temperature ranges as humans.

If it’s too hot or cold, most EVs will either cool or warm themselves. This is fine, but it does take a small amount of energy. Parking in the shade on a hot day and in a garage in cold weather will save some energy

4. Plan Ahead for Storage

Check your manufacturer’s recommendations for storage as they can vary.

In general though, charge your EV when it gets below a 20% charge, or every 3 months — whichever comes first.

If possible, check the level of charge on a monthly basis. With some EVs, an app will allow you to check the remaining charge, and instruct the car to add additional charge.

Many EVs on-board computers allow you to set the amount of charge you want. Some EVs even come with a “storage mode” which can take care of this for you.

5. Moderate Acceleration

Smooth acceleration when practical will help avoid discharging the battery unnecessarily.

6. Limit High-Speed Charging if Possible

Charging overnight at home rather than at a high-speed charger leads to less strain. It avoids pushing more current into the batteries at once.

Of course, if you need to use a high-speed charger because you don’t have access to home or workplace charging, go ahead and use it.

More Information On Extending Your EV Battery’s Lifespan

For more information, you can check with your manufacturer. Hyundai has a great video on extending battery life for the Kona Electric. Tesla also has an excellent video on extending battery life of a Tesla.

EV Battery Life FAQs


How is An EV Battery Replaced?

EV Battery Warranties

In the US, EV batteries are warrantied for 8 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is a federal law and can increase on a state-by-state basis. In California, an EV battery is warrantied for 10 years or 150,000 miles.

Some automakers offer more coverage than the federal mandate, including some Tesla models and the Rivian R1T pickup which is covered for eight years or 175,000 miles.

It’s best to check the details. Depending on the automaker, the warranty could only cover you in the case of a complete battery failure. With others, if the battery capacity percentage drops below a specified threshold, typically 60-70 percent, during the warranty period, repair or replacement could be covered.

 
 

How Often Do EV Batteries Fail

 As technology improves, new EV batteries are lasting much longer. In a recent study, the rate of battery failure was only 1.5%.

If your battery does eventually degrade to the point that you need to replace it and the replacement is not covered by the vehicle’s battery warranty, you may need to buy a new battery.


How Much Do EV Batteries Cost?

EV battery replacement costs range from $5,000 to $20,000. This is based on the battery pack, size and manufacturer.

If the battery fails in the warranty period or is replaced due to a recall, you should get a replacement battery at no extra cost.

Because EVs are powered by the battery alone, they are far simpler and more efficient than gas-powered vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries have also decreased in cost by 97% over the last 30 years. While it’s highly unlikely you will need to replace the battery, the cost to do so could exceed the value of your car.

Can EV Batteries Be Recycled?

Yes! Once batteries have degraded to the point that they aren’t suitable for electric vehicles, they can be used for stationary electricity storage at homes, businesses or power generation facilities.

95% of the materials in the battery can be recycled thanks to current technology. Their valuable materials - including cobalt and lithium salts, stainless steel, copper, aluminum and more - can be separated out to be reused.

VW recently announced a pilot plant for battery recycling which will work towards a target of recycling 97% of battery components. Tesla, Ford, Volvo and Toyota are also committed to EV battery recycling. In the US, there is federal funding available for battery recycling companies and research.

 

EV Battery FAQs


Do EV Batteries Make EVs Worse for the Environment Than Gas Cars

Battery technology is advancing quickly - EV battery components may be very different in the near future. Concerns about lithium ion batteries may be short-lived.

While some express concern about the sustainability of lithium ion EV batteries, EVs are already cleaner than internal combustion engine vehicles over the lifecycle of the vehicle across the US. Also, about 1/3 of electric car drivers have rooftop solar, so their electricity is coming from sunshine – saving fuel costs as well as the environment.

Gasoline on the other hand emits 20 pounds of CO2 per gallon and can only be burned once.

The movement towards EVs shouldn’t slow down because of environmental concerns related to electric vehicle batteries.

Read more about the environment and EV batteries.

Are Electric Cars with their Batteries Safer Than Gas Cars?

Addressing EV Battery Safety Concerns

One advantage of EVs over ICE vehicles is that they are safer - and not just because you will be breathing in less air pollution.

EVs must pass not only EV-specific tests, but also the same rigorous tests as other vehicles.

EV Battery Safety vs Gasoline Vehicle Fires

When compared to gasoline and the internal combustion engine, lithium-ion batteries have a lower risk of fire and explosions.

According to this data, gas-powered cars are 100x more prone to catch fire than EVs.

More EV Safety Notes

  • EV chargers are waterproof.
  • Batteries do get warm, but EVs are designed to keep them cool.
  • Most EVs have batteries that line the bottom of the vehicle (called the “skateboard chassis”). They have a low center of gravity. This makes them less likely to roll, and improves ride quality.
  • There are special instructions for emergency services in case of an EV crash.
  • Because EVs are quieter than gasoline vehicles, some manufacturers have started to install noise-making devices for EVs going at low speeds so pedestrians can hear them.

How To Maximize the Safety of Your EV battery

  • Get your car’s electrical system checked out regularly
  • Follow instructions for charging.
  • Give your vehicle’s manual a read. You will spend many hours enjoying driving your EV -- why not get to know the ins and outs, especially as they relate to safety?

Who Makes Electric Car Batteries?

More than 70 percent of automotive battery sales are from 4 companies - CATL, LG Energy Solution, BYD, and Panasonic

CATL, based in China, is by far the leading brand in EV battery manufacturing with 34% of the market share. They work on batteries for BMW, Toyota, Honda, Tesla and others.

 

How Do You Charge An EV Battery?

Electric Car Battery Charging

Most EV drivers charge at home each night, and wake up every morning with a full charge.

People with relatively short commutes can charge by simply plugging into a normal household 110 volt outlet (“Level 1” charger) to get 40 to 60 miles of charge overnight. If you need more range or to charge your car faster, you’ll want to install a 240 volt outlet like the one an electric clothes dryer uses (“Level 2” charger) to get about 25 miles of charge per hour.

If you live in an apartment or don’t have off-street parking, there are many places you can charge for free. If you do plan to take longer trips, just a little planning will ensure you can find charging stations along the way.

Fast charging “level 3” stations (usually located near markets and restaurants) enable charging up to 80% full in about 30 minutes.

More info on finding public charging stations here

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The Future of Electric Car Battery Technology

EV batteries have evolved rapidly.

  • Innovations in the development of lithium-ion batteries have allowed vehicles to go hundreds of miles on a single charge. An experimental electric vehicle went for over 1,000 miles on one charge. Toyota is building an electric car that they expect will have a range of over 700 miles.
  • Fast charging stations already enable charging up to 80% full in about 30 minutes, making EV road trips with fueling stops/meal breaks easy.
  • The cost of batteries has fallen tremendously as well.

There is still a great deal of research and development going into improving batteries.

Here are a few examples of what’s in store for EV batteries:

It is likely that one or more of these technologies will arrive on the market this decade.

Read more about the future of batteries.

 
 

Conclusion: Embracing The EV Movement

 
 

You are now armed with more information about EV batteries and how to maximize EV battery life. Hundreds of hundreds of thousands of miles of battery life is more than enough for most people.

By 2040, at least two-thirds of passenger vehicle sales are expected to be electric. This is being accelerated by gasoline phaseout policies around the world. Concerns about EV battery life should not stop you from joining the electric vehicle movement.

Use our EV Cost Savings Calculator to calculate how much you can save on total monthly costs by driving an EV and learn how you can make the switch to an EV.

 

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