Study finds EV batteries last longer than commonly assumed
A large-scale study by Austrian company AVILOO, based on over 500,000 used EV battery tests, shows most electric cars retain about 90% or more of their original battery capacity after 150,000 kilometers. Results vary significantly between models and even between identical cars.
Austrian company AVILOO has conducted what it describes as the largest independent study to date on electric vehicle battery degradation, analyzing more than 500,000 used battery tests across 20 popular models between 2022 and 2026. The company's overall database now contains over a million tests.
Batteries hold up better than expected
The findings show that while battery capacity gradually declines with mileage, most electric vehicles still retain around 90% or more of their original capacity after 150,000 kilometers. At the same time, researchers found notable variation between individual cars — even within the same model, battery condition can differ by as much as 13.5 percentage points.
Comparing models
Among the models studied, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 performed best, with average battery health of 97.2% at 50,000 kilometers and still 93.8% after 150,000 kilometers. The Tesla Model Y retained about 90.3% at the same mileage, while the smaller-battery Nissan Leaf showed a lower figure of roughly 86%.
What drives battery aging
According to the study, battery degradation depends not only on mileage but also on battery size, charging habits, climate, and usage conditions. Cars with smaller batteries tend to be charged more frequently, which typically accelerates wear.
AVILOO notes that it determines battery condition through independent diagnostics rather than relying solely on the readout shown on a car's dashboard — a distinction it says is especially important when buying a used EV, since two visually identical cars can have very different remaining battery capacity. The researchers conclude that modern EV batteries generally age more slowly than commonly assumed, though the actual condition of the battery remains the decisive factor when choosing a used electric vehicle.
