Updated electric vehicle (EV) battery health data from Geotab Inc. indicates that modern EV batteries continue to perform well across their operational lifespan, even as the use of high-power fast charging increases.
The updated EV battery health study analyzes real-world data from more than 22,700 EVs across 21 makes and models, based on several years of aggregated telematics information.
The analysis shows an average annual battery degradation rate of 2.3%, up from 1.8% reported in Geotab’s 2024 findings.
The increase reflects evolving usage patterns, particularly greater reliance on dc fast charging as EV adoption expands across commercial and public-sector fleets.
As EV deployment scales, battery lifespan remains a key consideration for both individual owners and fleet operators. Understanding how batteries age under different charging, climate, and utilization conditions enables more informed decisions around vehicle assignment, charging infrastructure planning, and long-term fleet strategy.
“EV battery health remains strong, even as vehicles are charged faster and deployed more intensively,” shared Charlotte Argue, senior manager, Sustainable Mobility at Geotab. “Our latest data shows that batteries are still lasting well beyond the replacement cycles most fleets plan for. What has changed is that charging behavior now plays a much bigger role in how quickly batteries age, giving operators an opportunity to manage long-term risk through smart charging strategies.”
Charging power emerges as the dominant factor
The analysis identifies charging power as the strongest operational influence on battery degradation. Vehicles that relied heavily on DCdcfast charging above 100 kW experienced faster degradation, averaging up to 3.0% per year, compared with approximately 1.5% for vehicles that primarily used AC or lower-power charging.
Climate showed a smaller independent effect. Vehicles operating in hotter regions degraded about 0.4% faster per year than those in more moderate environments.
Daily charging constraints less critical
The data suggests that strict daily charging limits are less impactful than previously assumed. Vehicles that regularly operated across a wider state-of-charge range did not show significantly higher degradation unless they consistently spent extended periods near full or near empty charge levels.
Higher vehicle utilization was associated with slightly increased degradation, averaging about 0.8% per year more than the lowest-use group. For fleets, this increase is generally offset by higher vehicle productivity and lower cost per mile achieved through increased utilization.
“For fleets, the focus should be balance,” Argue added. “Using the lowest charging power that still meets operational needs can make a measurable difference to long-term battery health without limiting vehicle availability.”
EV battery degradation context
Battery degradation is a gradual process that reduces the amount of energy a battery can store over time and is commonly measured as state of health (SOH). Batteries begin at 100% SOH and decline progressively. For example, a 60 kWh battery at 80% SOH effectively delivers 48 kWh of usable energy.
The analysis shows that while degradation rates vary by vehicle model, charging behavior, and operating conditions, most modern EV batteries remain fit for use well beyond typical ownership and fleet replacement timelines.
Access to accurate state-of-health data through telematics enables operators to understand real-world battery capacity, track degradation rates, and optimize vehicle use over the full lifecycle. These insights support more effective charging strategies, asset management, and long-term EV deployment planning.
Filed Under: Batteries, Charging, Technology News