How Long Will an EV Battery Last?

How long will an electric vehicle battery last, and what is the price to replace it? The response is often “it depends.” Many electric vehicle models come with an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty, but some do not.

While there is little agreement in the EV industry as to how long a vehicle battery will last, there is strong agreement and data proving the more energy used from the battery between charges, the shorter the battery’s life. As a result, there are some in the industry who adopt the charging phrase “graze not gorge” to encourage regular, short charging sessions, as opposed to using the vehicle until the battery is depleted.

A few common conditions may cause high energy usage of the battery and possibly contribute to shorter battery life:

• High temperatures.
• Overcharging.
• Frequent driving with a battery less than half-full.
• Frequent quick accelerations.

Prices start at $5,500 to replace a battery when the vehicle is past warranty. You may be able to refurbish battery packs for about half the cost of a replacement. Additionally, battery prices continue to drop, so replacement costs may decline.

Lastly, there is a concern about the disposal of old batteries. Thankfully, we are beginning to see batteries recycled or used as part of energy storage systems. This keeps batteries out of landfills and enables them to be used years after they are removed from vehicles. For example, Nissan launched an initiative to use old Nissan LEAF batteries as energy storage for streetlights. The lights have a solar panel that generates energy which gets stored in the battery. At night, the battery provides the power to run the streetlight.

As battery technology continues to develop, we will see the life of batteries extend and the cost of refurbishments and replacements decrease. It is also encouraging to see that there is a second life for batteries after they are removed from vehicles.

For more information about electric vehicles, charging stations, tax credits and incentives, visit www.BentonREA.org/EV.

This article was provided by Advanced Energy, a nonprofit energy consulting firm. For more information, visit www.advancedenergy.org.