ElectusEV battery lifespan
Understand how EV battery capacity evolves over time and what impacts it.
Interested in electric cars but worried about battery lifespan? This guide explains everything!
Battery degradation, commonly called SOH (State Of Health), is the remaining usable energy capacity of the battery.
Example: A 100 kWh battery with 95% SOH will have 95 kWh available.
Degradation mainly comes from two factors: battery age and number of usage cycles.
Age-related degradation is most pronounced in the first 2 to 4 years after production, then barely changes.
Typically we observe about 5% degradation by year 4, with very little change afterward.
The second factor is the number of cycles. One charge cycle equals a full 0% to 100% charge, even if done in parts (e.g., two 50% charges).
Two main chemistries exist: NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate). Lifespan varies by chemistry.
NMC batteries typically handle 1500 cycles before reaching 80% SOH, while LFP batteries handle about 3000 cycles before 80% SOH.
3000 cycles in a Tesla Model 3 rated at 513 km WLTP equals 1,539,000 km before reaching 80% SOH. Not bad, right?
Other factors can degrade the battery:
- Leaving the car below 10–20% for several days
- Leaving the car above 80–90% for several days/weeks (NMC batteries only)
On some older EVs without liquid-cooled packs, repeated fast charging on a trip can increase degradation. On modern cars, fast charging does not cause more degradation than AC charging thanks to active thermal management.
When buying used, ask the owner for the SOH or measure it via an OBD dongle. Guide to measure SOH (coming soon).
Like any component, a battery can fail, but it's rare. Batteries are typically warranted for 8 years and 160,000 km. Some garages specialize in EV and battery repairs, such as Révolte.