Study Shows Newer EVs Can Easily Last Up to 15 Years

Concerns about the cost of replacing an electric vehicle battery come up in nearly every conversation about EVs. Some people raise the issue as worried buyers, while others use it to argue against EVs altogether. The idea is simple: you may like your electric car today, but one battery replacement could ruin your finances.

However, new data shows these fears are outdated and misleading.

Research Shows Very Low Replacement Rates

According to InsideEVs, fresh research from Recurrent, a company that tracks EV battery health, confirms that most modern EVs rarely need battery replacements.

Liz Najman, Recurrent’s director of market insights, explained that early EVs did face more battery problems, but this is no longer common. “You will rarely need to get a battery replaced,” she said. She noted that while some batteries may have defects, most work reliably once the vehicle is in regular use.

Recurrent’s numbers support this claim. When major recall events caused by manufacturing defects, such as those involving the Chevrolet Bolt and Hyundai Kona, are excluded, the overall EV battery replacement rate is about 4%.

Battery replacement rates have also dropped across EV generations:

• First-generation EVs (2011–2016): 8.5% replacement
• Second-generation EVs (2017–2021): 2% replacement
• Third-generation EVs (2022 onward): 0.3%

Technology Has Improved Over Time

Part of the reason early EVs had higher replacement rates is age. Older batteries simply have more years of use. But technology has also advanced significantly.

For example, the original Nissan Leaf did not have a battery cooling system, which caused faster degradation. Modern EVs now use better cooling and more advanced battery management systems. These improvements protect the battery and help it last longer.

As Najman told InsideEVs, “I think that OEMs have really figured out how to keep lithium-ion batteries safe and happy.” Recurrent expects today’s EV batteries to last at least 15 years.

Problems Still Happen

Some individual EVs will still have issues, but the good news is that battery warranties usually last much longer than standard bumper-to-bumper warranties.

And it’s worth remembering that gasoline cars face similar risks. Engines sometimes fail due to defects or age, and replacing an engine is also expensive. No vehicle system is perfect.

While the data clearly shows that modern EV batteries are reliable, many critics will continue to repeat outdated claims. For some people, the debate is more about politics than facts, especially among those who view EVs as a “liberal” choice.

But the evidence is clear: EV battery replacement fears are largely outdated, exaggerated, and not supported by real-world data.

The post Study Shows Newer EVs Can Easily Last Up to 15 Years appeared first on ProPakistani.

Concerns about the cost of replacing an electric vehicle battery come up in nearly every conversation about EVs. Some people… Read More

The post Study Shows Newer EVs Can Easily Last Up to 15 Years appeared first on ProPakistani.