London – Among the many things people use to talk down on EVs is that the battery isn’t going to last long enough; it serves as a common myth today; however, it is getting harder to believe that it actually won’t, as real-world data now indicates otherwise.
According to Geotab, a telematics company based in Oakville, Ontario, most modern EV batteries are built to last more than 6 years as compared to a gas-powered car. The time span for EV batteries is around 20 years, and 14 years for gas-powered vehicles on an American road.
How did Geotab present this data?
Geotab got this data from a massive sample of over 10,000 electric vehicles. It tracked down their battery health over time, and what the telematics company found next was surprising, as the data shows that on average, EV batteries degrade by just 1.8% per year. According to this discovery, even after 5 years, your EV’s driving range is still secured at 91% and even after 20 years, the EV could still be working with 64 for daily commuting.
It is pertinent to mention that EV batteries can fail, but the failure rate in EVs is extremely low, less than 0.5% for EVs built in the last 10 years. Now you may wonder what causes your EV’s battery from wearing out too quickly. The reasons include extreme heat, DC fast charging, and always charging to 100%. In order to extend your EV’s battery life, the best tips are shared below.
- On batteries like NMC or NCM, the best % of charge is 20-80 percent
- Park in the shade to avoid direct heat when possible.
- For daily charging, the best chargers are either Level 1 or Level 2
If you ever encounter someone talking down on EVs, just hit ‘em with straight facts.
