If you plan to buy an electric car, there are several things you need to know, like how electric charging stations work and what kind of electric car insurance to buy. It’s also crucial to understand how long electric car batteries last, as replacing an electric vehicle (EV) car battery typically comes at a much higher price than replacing a traditional car battery. Keep reading to learn more about electric vehicle batteries and how long you can expect yours to last.
The lifespan expectancy of your electric vehicle battery
Before we dive into how electric car batteries work and the different types out there, let’s first answer the question at hand: how long do electric car batteries last?
The truth is, we don’t know for sure. Electric cars haven’t been around long enough to see how fast they wear out and what happens when they reach the end of their lives. Almost half of the electric cars on the road were sold between 2022 and now, meaning they are too new to show significant wear and tear. We will discuss in detail below the key factors to consider regarding the lifespan of a battery:
Check your manufacturer’s warranty
This means that your best bet is to read the manufacturer’s warranty for the specific EV you drive. Your battery’s warranty provides insight into the manufacturer’s belief about the product’s maximum lifespan.
Generally speaking, most current EV batteries come with warranties of eight years or 160,000 kilometres (100,000 miles), whichever comes first. Let’s use Tesla as an example. The pioneering electric vehicle company offers an eight-year battery warranty on all models, in addition to a warranty of between 160,000 and 240,000 kilometres (100,000 and 150,000 miles), depending on the model.
Consider the climate in your area
It’s worth noting that the temperature you drive your EV can also impact its battery life. Experts estimate that electric car batteries driven in mild climates can last as long as 12 to 15 years, whereas those driven in extreme climates may only last between 8 and 12 years.
Regardless, looking at early electric car models from 14 years ago, it seems their batteries last much longer than expected. Very few have needed replacement (minus major recalls), even after their 8-year, 160,000-kilometre warranty ends, meaning you can expect your EV battery to last much longer than the manufacturer’s expected warranty.
Understanding EV batteries
Today, most EV batteries are lithium-ion batteries, so we’ll focus on this type. Although there are a few other types of electric car batteries, such as solid-state batteries, lithium-ion batteries are by far the most popular type. Here is why:
Benefits of lithium-ion batteries
There are countless benefits of lithium batteries for electric cars, such as:
- They self-discharge at a lower rate than other types of batteries
- They do not need electrolyte maintenance or regular discharges
- They offer more consistent voltage, even towards the end of their lives
- They pack a higher energy density than conventional batteries
This is what allows electric cars with lithium-ion batteries to function as effectively, if not more so, than cars with gas engines.
Disadvantages of lithium-ion batteries
While there are many advantages, there are a few disadvantages to keep in mind, including:
- They are expensive to produce
- Production takes a toll on the environment since the mining of cobalt and nickel is required
- Extreme temperatures are known to affect their life expectancy
- Fully charging and discharging are also known to affect their life expectancy
That said, all of these issues are being addressed by EV automakers far and wide, and significant strides have been made.
Canada’s safety standards
It is also worth noting that just as Canada has strict safety standards for all passenger vehicles, including electric vehicles, the country has equally strict standards for EV battery packs. For example, all EV batteries must be encased in a sealed shell and able to handle a wide range of conditions, such as extreme temperatures, fires, water, vibrations, overheating, collisions, and short-circuiting. All electric vehicles must also be able to deactivate their electrical systems should a collision or short circuit occur.
How electric car battery technology works
The workings of a battery and a car’s electric motor are really quite simple. The battery connects to one or more electric motors, which drive the wheels. When you press the accelerator, the car instantly sends power to the motor, using the energy stored in the batteries.
Electric motors also act as generators. When you take your foot off the accelerator, the car slows down by converting its forward motion back into electricity. This also happens more strongly if you hit the brakes. This is called regenerative braking. Regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise be lost and stores it back in the battery, improving the car’s range.
How charging an EV battery impacts its lifespan
The truth is that charging an EV battery will affect its lifespan, but charging your electric car’s battery is a necessity, so there’s simply no way around it. That said, there are ways that you can minimize the degree to which your EV battery life expectancy is impacted, including:
Drain your battery completely before charging
Completely draining your EV battery and then fully charging it may take a larger toll than if you charge it before it is fully discharged. For most people, this is a common habit anyway, as just as someone driving a traditional car wouldn’t wait to fill up on gas until there is a single drop of gasoline left in the tank, someone driving an EV car isn’t likely to wait until the battery is at 1% before charging.
Do not fully charge your battery
Experts recommend only charging your EV battery pack to 85% or 90% of its battery capacity for daily use. Faster charges are also known to degrade lithium-ion electric car batteries at a quicker rate than slower chargers. This is why, typically, at-home electric vehicle stations charge an EV slower than others.
Thus, experts recommend only using the convenient yet expensive fast chargers you can find outside the home on an as-needed basis. Your battery can certainly handle the fast chargers from time to time, but regular use can more quickly lead to a reduced electric car battery life.
How to know when to replace your electric vehicle battery
Are you concerned that your electric vehicle battery is nearing the end of its life? There are a couple of ways that you can tell when it’s time to replace your EV battery.
The first and most obvious sign is that the driving range is severely diminished. Most fully charged electric cars have a range of 200 to 500 kilometres. However, when the battery’s capacity has been depleted, the EV’s driving range will likely be less than 80% of its original range.
At this stage, experts recommend taking your vehicle to an auto body shop to have it examined. If the car is still under warranty, you should also contact the dealership or automakers, as you could get a battery replacement for free.
Please note that the weather conditions you’re driving in have the ability to affect the battery range temporarily. For example, if you’re driving on an extremely cold day in January or during a heat wave in August, it’s normal to experience a reduced range. However, if you are driving in mild weather, it could be a sign that your EV battery is no longer functioning as it should.
How much does it cost to replace an EV battery?
EV batteries are expensive - there’s no way around it. That’s why it’s so important to not only have an idea of how long it will be before your electric car battery needs to be replaced but also what the terms and conditions of your EV battery warranty are. If your EV battery is no longer under warranty, you can expect a replacement battery to cost anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 or more.
Electric vehicle battery warranties
As mentioned above, all-electric car batteries come with a manufacturer’s warranty. These are usually limited warranties, and while each has its own unique terms and conditions, the average warranty for lithium-ion EV batteries is eight years and 160,000 kilometres. However, there are several factors to keep in mind when purchasing a warranty, such as:
Make sure your warranty includes major degradation
Most electric vehicle battery warranties do not solely cover the breakdown of the battery park. Rather, they may also offer a guarantee against major degradation.
As you may already know, when you charge a lithium-ion EV battery, or any lithium-ion battery for that matter, its battery capacity slowly starts to go down. As years go by, the habit of fully charging and discharging the lithium-ion EV battery will cause its maximum charge capacity to be severely diminished. In turn, this takes a toll on the driving range of the EV.
As such, if you believe that your electric car’s range has been significantly reduced in a short period of time, your warranty may cover you for a battery replacement. Many warranties even state what the normal charge capacity should remain at.
For example, Tesla has stated that the Model 3 should retain 70% of its charge capacity while the battery is under warranty. If the Model 3’s charge capacity falls below this threshold while the car is still under warranty, the owner can request a replacement.
South Korean automaker Hyundai offers a similar EV battery warranty for its Ioniq 5 model. The battery warranty for the Ioniq 5 is ten years or 160,000 kilometres, and it covers both a dead battery and battery degradation. Similar to Tesla, Hyundai states that the Ioniq 5’s battery should not deplete by more than 30% during the warranty period.
Opt for an extra-long battery warranty
Given how expensive it can be to replace an electric car battery out of pocket, you may wish to purchase an EV with an extra-long battery warranty. As mentioned above, most electric cars sold in Canada come with battery warranties of eight years or 160,000 kilometres. That said, certain manufacturers do offer a lifespan above this.
For example, certain Tesla models come with battery warranties of 240,000 kilometres, and the Hyundai Ioniq 5’s battery warranty, as mentioned above, extends to ten years.
Generally speaking, the more luxurious the EV you are buying, the longer and more comprehensive the battery warranty will be. Some automakers also give customers the option of purchasing an extended warranty that will increase the original warranty by four years or 80,000 kilometres (50,000 miles).
Tips to extend EV battery longevity
Here are some tips to help your EV battery last longer:
Park in a garage
If you live in an area with very hot or cold weather, try to park in a garage to protect your car’s battery from extreme temperatures.
Drive gently
Electric cars have quick acceleration, but it’s better for the battery if you accelerate gradually and avoid aggressive driving.
Follow your charging guidelines
Most EV batteries last longer if charged to 85% or 90% for daily use. Check your car’s manual for the best charging advice.
What to do if your electric car battery dies
If your electric car battery dies while on the road and you are unable to charge it, the first thing you should do is call a tow truck to tow your car to the nearest charging station. Please note that if roadside assistance is one of the types of auto insurance included with your policy, then this cost may be covered. The good news is that since there are an increasing number of public electric charging stations, you may only have to be towed a short distance rather than towing all the way home.
If your battery dies, not because you were unable to charge it in time but due to an incident, such as a car accident, you may still need to call a tow, but you will also need to contact your insurance provider. Your insurance provider can tell you how to file a car insurance claim and explain how accidents affect car insurance rates.
Reach out to BrokerLink to find out more about car insurance
If you want to learn more about electric car batteries or how electric car insurance works, don’t hesitate to contact BrokerLink. A BrokerLink insurance advisor can explain all there is to know about how long electric vehicle batteries last and answer your questions about EV battery warranties and EV insurance.
We can even offer tips on how to find the best possible electric vehicle insurance policy for your car and how you can save money on it. For example, did you know that many insurance companies in Canada offer car insurance discounts to electric car drivers? It’s true! You can also save money by purchasing multiple auto insurance policies at once.
At the end of the day, the BrokerLink team is pleased to help you with every aspect of the electric vehicle insurance product, whether you want to know what documents you need for car insurance or what mandatory coverage looks like in Ontario. Get started today by requesting a free electric car insurance quote.
Get an auto insurance quote [phone]
