Used EV battery longevity: 8 in 10 keep 90% after 100,000 km

32CARS.RU analyzed data from Kvdbil and dispelled the biggest fear surrounding electric cars: batteries last longer than many expect. In a study covering 1,366 used EVs and hybrids, eight out of ten vehicles retained more than 90% of their original capacity—even after surpassing 100,000 kilometers.

Project lead Martin Reinholdsson noted that the team was aware of the batteries’ solid endurance but was still struck by how often they remained close to their initial condition.

Experts assessed State of Health (SoH), the ratio of current battery capacity to the original figure. Among the standouts were the Kia EV6 and Kia e-Niro, followed by the Tesla Model Y, Opel Mokka-e, Mazda MX-30, Audi Q4 e-tron, Fiat 500e, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Citroën ë-C4, and Volkswagen ID.4. All of these models showed minimal degradation even after several years on the road. It is noteworthy that the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and 6, despite sharing the same platform, did not make the top 10—nor did the Tesla Model 3—an outcome that will surprise some shoppers and underscores how results can differ from model to model.

The reasons behind low degradation lie not only in engineering but also in day-to-day use. Specialists reminded that battery longevity depends on climate, driving style, and charging habits. It’s better to avoid routinely charging past 80% and not to leave the battery sitting below 20%, as those extremes accelerate wear.

The study also pointed out that infrequent fast charging does not harm the pack, while modern cooling systems handle heat well even under intensive use—another sign that contemporary EVs are built with real-world demands in mind.

These findings give confidence to anyone eyeing the used-EV market: fears of “dead batteries” are largely overstated. With careful operation, most cars can preserve strong capacity for more than a decade, making a pre-owned electric car an increasingly sensible choice.