How long can an electric vehicle battery last? The latest research data breaks your stereotypes

For many consumers interested in purchasing an electric vehicle, the question of “how many years the battery will last” has always been a concern. Canada’s well-known fleet management platform Geotab recently released the “2025 Battery Health Study,” which provides a surprising answer: real-world electric vehicle batteries are far more durable than expected. This large-scale study tracking over 22,000 EVs worldwide shows that the average annual capacity degradation rate is only 2.3%. After 13 years of normal use, the battery can still retain 75% of its original capacity. For most commuters, this level of durability fully meets daily needs.

Capacity declines only 2.3% per year, far exceeding user holding periods

Geotab’s sample includes operational data from 21 brands and over 22,700 light-duty electric vehicles. The most interesting finding is that the theoretical lifespan of EV batteries is actually longer than the typical vehicle ownership period. According to a survey by U.S. insurance company The Zebra, the average car owner holds onto a vehicle for about 8 years. Comparing this with Geotab’s data, when owners are preparing to sell or retire their vehicles, the battery health (State of Health, SOH) is usually still above 80%, meaning the “technological lifespan” of the battery far exceeds the “actual ownership period.”

In other words, the concern that “after 13 years, the battery will only have 75% capacity” generally won’t become a real problem. Most owners will have already sold or retired their vehicles before the battery’s capacity declines to that level. This finding is significant for the used EV market, providing potential buyers with increased confidence in their purchase.

Charging habits greatly influence battery lifespan

However, the study also identified a key factor affecting EV battery life— the frequency of high-power DC fast charging. Data shows that different charging habits lead to significant differences in battery degradation:

If fast charging accounts for less than 12%, users who adopt moderate charging strategies—mainly using home chargers or low-power public chargers—see an average annual capacity loss of only 1.5%. These users tend to have the most reliable battery longevity.

Conversely, if fast charging exceeds 12%, especially for those who frequently use high-power chargers above 100kW, the annual degradation rate can rise to 2.5% or higher. Extreme users relying on fast charging more than 40% of the time may experience annual capacity loss reaching 3.0%.

While these differences may seem small, their long-term effects are substantial. For example, under moderate charging, after 13 years, the battery capacity might be around 89%, whereas with heavy fast charging, it could drop to just 61%, a difference of 28 percentage points. Therefore, for users planning to keep the same vehicle long-term, charging habits have a profound impact.

Why are this year’s figures higher than last year’s?

Attentive readers may notice that Geotab’s average degradation rate was 1.8% last year, but this year it has increased to 2.3%. The official explanation is interesting: this is not due to a decline in battery technology but because the 2025 data sample is larger, and more importantly, the widespread adoption of fast charging networks has led to increased reliance on fast charging, which raises the overall average degradation rate. In other words, changes in user charging behavior have shifted the average, not a deterioration in battery technology itself.

This phenomenon also reflects the true development trajectory of the EV industry—improved charging infrastructure makes fast charging more accessible, but this convenience comes at the cost of accelerated battery wear. Finding a balance between charging convenience and battery longevity is becoming an increasingly important issue.

The used EV market faces new opportunities

This study not only alleviates concerns for potential new buyers but also benefits the used EV market significantly. As telematics technology becomes more widespread, future buyers will be able to more accurately assess a vehicle’s battery health, reducing information asymmetry risks. Compared to traditional fuel vehicles, where understanding engine condition can be difficult in used car transactions, EVs with transparent battery data may become more trustworthy second-hand options.

Looking ahead, as semi-solid battery technology gradually commercializes, the durability of EV batteries is expected to improve further. It is foreseeable that in the near future, worries about battery lifespan when purchasing an EV will become a thing of the past.

Overall, as long as extreme driving habits—such as avoiding fast charging altogether—are not adopted, the durability of modern EV batteries is no longer a barrier to purchase. The data speaks for itself—electric vehicle batteries have already exceeded most people’s expectations in reliability.