‘Battery replacement rates have plummeted’: EVs now match gas cars for longevity, new study suggests — electric cars retain 95% of their original range after 5 years
A new study from battery analytics company Recurrent has revealed that the average electric vehicle retains up to 95% of its original driving capacity after five years on the road.
Although early EV manufacturers were concerned that battery packs would degrade to the point where they would need replacing, the data is now showing that the cells are dramatically out-performing original predictions.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, the findings point to the fact that advances in battery chemistry, thermal management systems, and vehicle software have significantly improved battery longevity, allowing EVs to effectively travel the same sort of distances as their ICE counterparts without the need for a battery pack replacement.
Recurrent’s statistics state that roughly one in 12 electric vehicles built between 2011 and 2016 required battery replacements. For EVs produced from 2022 onward, that figure has dropped dramatically to just 0.3 percent.
While the report notes that frequent high-powered DC charging can accelerate battery degradation compared with regular charging from slower, domestic outlets, Digital Trends reveals that data from Geotab shows batteries frequently charged at high power still retain about 89.7 percent of their original capacity after several years.
As a result, EV owners are finding their batteries are retaining more capacity, even after very high mileage, than originally predicted.
The Wall Street Journal report cites a UK-based EV dealer whose five-year-old Tesla Model 3 has clocked up 247,000 miles, yet the estimated range is only a few miles less than the official WLTP figure when new.
Despite several recent reports dispelling the myth that EV batteries degrade to a point that they are near-useless after a few years, consumer confidence remains low when it comes to the issue.
Digital Trends claims that a 2025 survey by AutoPacific found that fears over expensive battery replacements remain the leading reason many prospective buyers avoid electric vehicles in the US.
As such, it is extremely important that used electric vehicles are advertised with a clear and transparent battery health certificate that allows buyers to quickly and easily assess how maximum range might be impacted by any degradation.
A number of used car dealers are already signed up to independently certified EV battery diagnostics schemes, such as those from Generational and Dekra in the UK, but many are calling for an industry-wide standard.
A poll conducted by Startline finance back in 2025 found that nine in 10 used car dealers said the used electric car sector needs an industry-wide scheme for battery health tests.
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Leon has been navigating a world where automotive and tech collide for almost 20 years, reporting on everything from in-car entertainment to robotised manufacturing plants. Currently, EVs are the focus of his attentions, but give it a few years and it will be electric vertical take-off and landing craft. Outside of work hours, he can be found tinkering with distinctly analogue motorcycles, because electric motors are no replacement for an old Honda inline four.
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