A New Perspective on EV Battery Health

For years, the degradation of electric vehicle (EV) batteries has been a primary concern for potential buyers and automotive enthusiasts. Many have operated under the assumption that an EV's battery capacity would inevitably plummet as the vehicle accumulated mileage and years on the road. However, a recent, extensive investigation has effectively challenged this long-held belief.


The research was conducted by the Swedish automotive marketplace, Carla. The project spanned four years, from 2022 to 2026, and involved monitoring nearly 10,000 electric vehicles from major manufacturers, including Tesla, BMW, Audi, and more. The primary objective was to assess the actual battery health of these vehicles after reaching the 62,000-mile milestone.


Surprising Findings: Minimal Capacity Loss

The results of the health tests provided a clear message: modern EV batteries are remarkably resilient. In fact, some models managed to retain an impressive 97 percent of their original capacity after 62,000 miles. This data strongly suggests that the fears surrounding rapid battery decline are largely unfounded for modern electric cars.


The Top Performers

Among the thousands of vehicles tested, a few stood out for their exceptional battery retention:

  • Kia e-Niro & Hyundai Kona: Tied for the lead, both vehicles maintained a remarkable 97 percent of their battery capacity.
  • Kia EV6: Secured the third spot with a capacity retention of 95.95 percent.
  • Volvo XC40 Recharge: Ranked fourth at 94.70 percent.
  • Polestar 2: Completed the top five with 94.35 percent.

It is worth noting that South Korean manufacturers dominated the top of the list, demonstrating consistent reliability in their battery technology. The first German-engineered vehicle to appear on the list was the BMW i3, which claimed sixth place with a retention rate of 93.77 percent.


Performance of Tesla and Other Models

While Tesla remains a leader in the EV market, its performance in this specific metric was perhaps less dominant than some might expect. Only one Tesla model, the 60.5kWh Model 3, secured a position in the top ten, recording 93.94 percent capacity. Other Tesla variants, such as the 78.8kWh Model 3 and the Model S, appeared further down the list in 12th and 13th place, respectively.


Ultimately, even the lowest-performing vehicle in the study—the 58kWh Volkswagen ID.3—retained a substantial 91.7 percent of its original battery capacity. This indicates that even the most modest performers in this category still maintain a high level of efficiency long-term. As the study concludes, the pervasive concern regarding rapid battery degradation is not supported by real-world usage data.