For years, critics have insisted that electric cars are disposable because their batteries fade too fast. Real-world data now tells a very different story, showing that modern packs are aging more like engines in long-lived gas cars than like oversized phone batteries. As large telematics datasets come into focus, I see a clear pattern: most drivers will retire the vehicle long before the battery becomes unusable.
What the big datasets actually show
The most striking shift comes from large-scale analysis of cars already on the road, not lab projections. Earlier this year, Jan research from Geotab examined more than 10,000 electric vehicles and found that modern EV batteries degrade slowly and predictably over time. Instead of the steep early drop many drivers fear, the data shows a gentle decline that keeps usable range within a comfortable band for typical commuting and family use.
When I look at the latest Jan update on degradation trends, the numbers are even more specific. Across brands and chemistries, Geotab data shows average annual EV battery degradation of exactly 2.3%, a figure that already accounts for real-world habits like highway driving and occasional fast charging. A companion Jan study of Battery health across 22,700 vehicles reinforces the same pattern, Comparing earlier results with newer cars and highlighting how Higher power charging is being used without triggering catastrophic wear. Put simply, the myth of rapid, unpredictable battery death is not showing up in the telemetry.
How long EV batteries really last
Once you translate those percentages into years behind the wheel, the picture becomes even clearer. In its Jan deep dive on long-term performance, Geotab reports that Most EV batteries last 15-20 years, with an average degradation rate of about 1.8% per year under moderate use. That is a slower fade than the broader 2.3% fleet average, reflecting what happens when drivers avoid the harshest conditions and treat their cars like long-term assets rather than disposable gadgets.
Other independent analysis lines up with that range. A consumer-focused explainer from Nov notes that when people ask about the lifespan of an electric car, they are really asking two things at once: how long the vehicle itself will last, and how long the battery will keep enough capacity to be useful. The bottom line, according to Nov, is that modern packs are engineered to retain most of their capacity well beyond the warranty period, often outliving the rest of the car’s hardware. In practical terms, that means a typical owner can expect to drive an EV for well over a decade without facing a mandatory, wallet-breaking battery swap.
Degradation in the real world, from fleets to Pakistan
Real-world experience from fleets, which rack up mileage far faster than private owners, offers a stress test of those projections. Jan telematics reporting on New Telematics Data World EV Battery Health shows that Fleet professionals transitioning to electric vehicles are seeing batteries hold up comfortably across a ten-year fleet replacement cycle. When I talk to fleet managers, what matters most is whether a van or sedan can still cover its daily route after hundreds of thousands of kilometers, and the telematics data suggests the answer is yes, with range to spare.
The same pattern is emerging in markets that rely heavily on used imports, where skepticism about longevity is often loudest. A Jan global study on EV Battery Life Reality in 2026 notes that “The battery won’t last” is a claim repeated so often that it feels true, and that in Pakistan the fear is amplified by the influx of older second-hand cars. Yet the underlying data shows that after 5 years capacity typically remains around 90%, and even after a decade many packs still deliver daily usable range. For drivers in Karachi or Lahore buying a used Nissan Leaf or Hyundai Kona, that means the car is far from “dead” just because it has crossed an arbitrary age threshold.
Fast charging, climate and other real-world stress tests
One of the most persistent worries I hear is that frequent DC fast charging will quietly destroy an EV battery long before the finance payments end. New Geotab research released in Jan directly addresses that fear, finding that as fast charging use increases, New Geotab data shows EV battery health remains strong. The same release reiterates that Geotab data shows average annual EV battery degradation of 2.3%, even as high-power charging becomes more common, which suggests that modern thermal management and charging software are doing their job.
Climate and driving style still matter, but not in the catastrophic way early skeptics predicted. A detailed breakdown from Sep on Electric Car Battery separates Fact from Fiction and tackles the question, How Long Do EV Batteries Last, by leaning on According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory guidance. It notes that extreme heat, constant high-speed driving and repeated full charges can accelerate wear, yet even in those conditions the degradation curve tends to be gradual rather than sudden. In practice, that means a driver in Phoenix who regularly uses a 150 kW charger might see a few extra percentage points of loss over several years, but not the kind of cliff that strands them on the side of the highway.
Why EV batteries are outlasting gas cars
Perhaps the most counterintuitive finding in the latest research is that many electric car batteries are now expected to outlive comparable gasoline vehicles. A Jan summary of a large-scale dataset reports that New data shows most electric car batteries easily outlive gas cars, with battery degradation averages just 2% per year. That finding, drawn from a large-scale analysis of 22,700 electric vehicles, undercuts the idea that an EV is a short-term experiment while a gasoline sedan is a safe, long-lived bet.
When I compare those numbers with the 15-20 year lifespan and 1.8% per year degradation reported in Jan by Geotab, the conclusion is hard to avoid: the limiting factor for many EVs will be changing technology or owner preference, not a worn-out pack. As chemistries improve and manufacturers refine cooling systems, the gap between perception and reality is likely to widen further. For buyers weighing a Tesla Model 3, a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or a BYD Atto 3 against a traditional compact sedan, the emerging evidence suggests the electric option is at least as durable, and in many cases more so, than the gas car it replaces.
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