A dead, irreplaceable battery is often the demise of an otherwise perfectly good piece of equipment, but new research shows the opposite may be true with electric vehicles (EVs). A study conducted in March by Seattle-based battery analysis company, Recurrent Motors Inc. showed that overall, EV batteries are actually very reliable and long-lasting. They may even last longer than the vehicles themselves.
The study took real-world data from 15,000 EVs of various makes and models in the U.S. By linking to the vehicles’ connectivity systems, the company took several battery readings daily, including charging activity, EV battery level, and estimated range. The data showed that most EVs driven close to 100,000 miles still have at least 90% of their original range left. The publication added that individual vehicles vary and that data is constantly evolving.
The cost of replacing an EV battery can range from $5,000 to $22,000, which few people would be willing to pay, especially on a used car with an outdated warranty. Data from the study positively showed that, outside of official recalls, only 1.5% of cars had batteries replaced.
EVs typically come with a standard battery warranty, between 8 and 12 years, plus mileage. Recurrent found most drivers were not replacing their batteries even after those warranties expired. Twelve years is the current average lifespan for gas-powered cars in the US, according to Progressive Insurance. This suggests a battery replacement could come at a natural time when drivers are considering a new vehicle or replacing the battery on the current one.
Sources: Yahoo Finance, SlashDot
