When we talk about EV batteries, there is one major takeaway: they are holding up better than expected and should outlast the cars themselves. However, that assurance isn't enough for everyone.

Here's a deeper dive in battery replacements and battery aging in EVs.

Most EV batteries are still in cars

There have been two major battery recalls in recent years - in Chevrolet Bolt EVs and Hyundai Kona EVs. These were both due to defects in batteries from the same manufacturer, and replacements were covered by the automakers. Other than these two recalls, though, battery replacements in the Recurrent community remain rare.

Across all years and models, outside of big recalls, under 4% have been replaced -- including 10+ year old cars. Although this number increased from our last study, it is due to the earliest EVs getting older. For first generation EVs, the replacement rate is around 8.5%. For second generation EVs, such as the early Chevy Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3, it's at 2%. For modern EVs, from 2022 and onwards, the replacement rate is 0.3%.

Why Replace an EV Battery?

There are two main reasons someone might need to replace an EV battery. Both are very rare

1. Failure or defect. The first reason you may need to replace an EV battery if there is a manufacturing defect or structural issue, such as with the Chevy Bolt or Hyundai Kona. A battery failure or defect could also include a one-off issue with a specific car that has caused the battery to fail. Most of these are caught before the car is sold or early on in the cars lifetime, and they are always covered by the manufacturer.
2. Age and normal deterioration. Have you noticed that after a few years, your cell phone battery no longer lasts very long? The same thing happens to the battery in your car, but much more slowly. Instead of needing a replacement after 2 years, it may take 10-20 years, depending on how modern the tech is. Also good to know that for most EVs, warranties will replace the battery if it falls below 70% of its original capacity while warrantied. This doesn't mean the battery is dead - 70% is still a lot of energy, especially with newer batteries that average over 90 kWh.

Finally, you may need a new EV battery if something damages yours, such as road debris or an accident. This is often an insurance issue, and it's good to check with your insurance provider to see what would be covered.

2025 Updates

It's no surprise that gen 1 EVs - those from 2016 or earlier - saw the highest rate of battery replacements due to deterioration or age. We also noticed an uptick in Tesla battery replacements for models from 2019 and 2021. Of note, Tesla replaced most of these batteries with updated LFP batteries, ensuring a longer lifespan for the new pack.

In terms of newer cars that have had warranty replacements, we have:

• 2017-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV (recall)
• 2019 - 2022 Hyundai Kona EV (recall)
• Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat (module replacements under warranty)
• 2022 Hummer EVs (recall)
  • One of our owners reported, “GM called and asked if they could have my battery for an engineering study. They offered me $250.00, the new battery, and a loaner vehicle. Dealer turned it around in 1 day, as this was the second time they replaced my battery. Win win for everyone.”
• 2022 Rivian R1Ts (all warranty replacements)

If you have an older EV and are curious about the battery replacement process or cost, we have info for you!

About the data: Recurrent tracks battery replacements over time based on recall status, owner self-reports and by observing unusual jumps in vehicle range that often indicate replacement events. Our community is not representative of all EVs on the road due to limited data connectivity for some makes and model years.

How long will your EV battery last?

The honest answer is that we don’t know. By and large, electric cars have not been around long enough for us to see how long they last - in part, because they are lasting longer than expected. The best we can do is observe the apparent degradation in those cars on the road.

Even observations from real world EVs can be challenging since around 75% of the EVs on the road were sold in or after 2023. This means they are far too new to exhibit any meaningful degradation, and that most of the data out there skews towards newer cars.

How Battery Aging Affects Your Range

While Recurrent can't see into your battery, we do use telematics observations, charging data, and machine learning to predict how your range will change over time. Below, we share brand new data showing expected range availability in three years. This data uses proprietary algorithms based on actual EVs on the road.

It is very important to note that range availability is not the same as battery degradation. In the chart below, several automakers maintain 100% of their original range over five years. However, it is a physical reality that these batteries have still aged. Rather, the automakers use software updates to improve efficiency and release reserved battery over time, giving a consistent experience to drivers.

The Science

Another way to understand how batteries in EVs age is to use what we know about battery science from laboratory testing. Generally, lithium ion batteries degrade in an S-shaped curve. When a battery is new, there can be some noticeable degradation as the battery settles into its steady state. After that, there is a long period of slow, linear aging, followed by a sharp decrease when the battery dies. But even in cars that need a replacement, it is rare to see the catastrophic failure that is expected at the end of a lithium ion battery’s life. Almost all of the EVs on the road today are in their stable state.  

Read more about battery degradation and how to protect against it. 

What warranties say about batteries

Another way we can understand the expected lifespan on major EV batteries is by seeing how long the manufacturers guarantee them. The standard battery warranty in the US is 8 years or 100,000 miles, but manufacturers can decide what percentage of original battery capacity is ensured over that time. For instance, the Model 3 Standard Range battery is guaranteed to stay at 70% original capacity for 100,000 miles or 8 years, whichever happens first. Meanwhile, Hyundai EV batteries from 2020 onwards are guaranteed to maintain 70% of capacity for 10 years or 100,000 miles.  

Read more about battery warranties. 

These warranties should reinforce that EV batteries last for quite a while, and as technology improves, we should expect to see batteries that will show only slight degradation over decades or hundreds of thousands of miles. Maybe the million mile battery is already out there!

Battery second life

The other big question when it comes to battery life is what comes next for all these lithium ion batteries. Batteries that are too degraded to use in cars can still be used to store and generate electricity for other uses that don’t require the same power. 

Read more about battery second life. 

Has your EV had a battery replacement?

Electric cars with battery replacements provide a lot of insight on the past, present and future of EV batteries. If you have one, please consider contributing some of that valuable information to the Recurrent driver community!