rewrite this title How Fast Do Electric Vehicle Batteries Age?

Battery life and capacity degradation, the biggest concern in the transition to electric vehicle (EV) technology, may have been resolved by a comprehensive test conducted by ADAC, Germany’s largest automobile association. ADAC subjected a Volkswagen ID.3 model to a rigorous real-world experiment for four years, investigating how well the battery packs held up in the long run.

ADAC took delivery of the 77 kWh VW ID.3 Pro S Tour in May 2021 and subjected it to over 40,000 kilometers of annual driving. By the end of the four-year test period, the vehicle had covered over 172,000 kilometers. During this time, the vehicle’s battery health was closely monitored by the Bavarian Test and Technology Center.

Volkswagen guarantees that the ID.3’s battery will retain at least 70% of its original net capacity after eight years or 160,000 kilometers. However, after four years and 172,000 kilometers, ADAC’s test vehicle still retained 91% of its original net capacity. This result proved that the vehicle was within a healthy range, not requiring a battery replacement under warranty.

Calculations show that despite 40% of charging being done at fast-charging stations during the test period, the ID.3 only lost 13 kilometers from its declared maximum range of 526 kilometers.

ADAC intentionally conducted the test to simulate typical user behavior. This meant the vehicle was frequently charged up to 100% capacity and then left unused for several days. Conversely, most EV manufacturers recommend keeping the charge at 80% capacity if the vehicle is to be left standing for a long time, in order to preserve battery life. ADAC’s findings demonstrated that the battery health was surprisingly well preserved despite these challenging conditions.

Another detail highlighted in the test was that the ID.3 only achieved a range of approximately 400 km instead of the official WLTP range of 526 km during highway driving. On the other hand, Volkswagen released software updates throughout the testing period, increasing the vehicle’s charging capacity up to 170 kW. VW states that these software improvements had a positive effect on power consumption and range, especially over short distances and in cold winter temperatures between 0 and 5°C.

Is the Worry About Battery Aging Exaggerated?

This comprehensive real-world data supports other research which suggests that concerns about electric vehicle battery degradation are often exaggerated.

A Swedish car dealership, in its review of over 1,000 used EVs, found that both pure electric and hybrid battery packs retained more than 90% of their capacity even after high mileage and intensive fast charging. Research by the British leasing company Arval showed that the average battery health level was 93%, and even after 200,000 kilometers, the average capacity remained close to 90%.

All this means that for many second-hand electric vehicles, the range drops only a few kilometers, while the charging speeds and efficiency remain largely the same. With far fewer mechanical components that can malfunction, EVs, in light of this data, may become an increasingly reliable and attractive second-hand purchase option.

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