Electric vehicle (EV) batteries continue to perform strongly through their operation lifespan, according to data from connected vehicle and assess management solutions firm Geotab.
The firm’s latest study analysed real-world battery health data from more than 22,700 electric vehicles across 21 makes and models, drawing on several years of aggregated telematics information.
The updated analysis shows an average annual battery degradation rate of 2.3%, compared to 1.8% in Geotab’s 2024 findings.
The increase reflects changes in how EVs are being used, most notably a growing reliance on high-power DC fast charging. EV lifespan can be a concern for both individual drivers and fleet operators, particularly as adoption accelerates across commercial and public-sector fleets.
By understanding how batteries age under different charging, climate, and utilisation conditions, operators can better manage EV performance, protect battery health, and make decisions about strategy over the life of the vehicle, the firm said.
The analysis shows that charging power is now the strongest operational influence on EV battery health. Vehicles that relied heavily on DC fast charging above 100 kW experienced faster degradation, averaging up to 3.0% per year, compared with around 1.5% for vehicles that primarily used AC or lower-power charging.
Other factors, such as climate, showed a smaller independent effect. Vehicles operating in hotter regions degraded around 0.4% faster per year than those in mild climates.
The data also challenges the need for strict day-to-day charging constraints. Vehicles that regularly used a wider state-of-charge range did not show meaningfully higher degradation unless they spent prolonged, habitual periods near full or near empty charge levels.
Charlotte Argue, Senior Manager, Sustainable Mobility at Geotab, said:
“EV battery health remains strong, even as vehicles are charged faster and deployed more intensively.
“Our latest data shows that batteries are still lasting well beyond the replacement cycles most fleets plan for.
“What has changed is that charging behaviour now plays a much bigger role in how quickly batteries age, giving operators an opportunity to manage long-term risk through smart charging strategies.”
“For fleets, the focus should be balance. Using the lowest charging power that still meets operational needs can make a measurable difference to long-term battery health without limiting vehicle availability.”
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