Study Finds EV Batteries Retain High Capacity After 150,000 Kilometers

A study by battery specialist Aviloo indicates that most used electric vehicles retain approximately 90 percent of their original usable battery capacity after 150,000 kilometers. The analysis evaluated over 500,000 battery tests from 2022 to 2026 across 20 common models in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Asia, though it did not include data from China. The findings suggest that battery longevity is higher than many drivers previously feared. For comparison, manufacturers typically guarantee at least 70 percent capacity after eight years or 160,000 kilometers. Specific model performance varied: the Mercedes Benz EQA, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and BMW i4 performed particularly well, while the Nissan Leaf ZE1, Mini Cooper SE, Renault Zoe, and Tesla Model 3 averaged below 90 percent. The study noted that batteries in models with smaller capacities tended to age faster because they require more frequent charging. Aviloo concluded that buyers of used electric cars should prioritize the State of Health of the battery, similar to how they would check the mileage of a traditional vehicle.