The Expert Podcast

So how long can you really count on coverage and protection for your electric vehicle battery? Let’s take a look at some warranties from 2016 for used vehicles. If you look at all these vehicles—and again, these aren’t all the electric vehicles and some of this may have changed—most vehicles have an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty. Since then, the federal government has required that electric vehicles have at least an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the battery. That sounds good. It’s like, well, eight years is a long time. But don’t forget about the 100,000 miles.

Most people drive 20,000 to 25,000 miles a year. In fact, many people drive more than 25,000 miles a year. Twenty thousand miles a year is about 2,000 miles a month. Two thousand miles a month is nothing—that’s about 30-something miles per day. If you have a 15-mile trip to work each day, you’re going to hit 2,000 miles a month easily, not counting trips, weekend getaways, or other travels.

If you drive 25,000 miles a year, you’re going to hit 100,000 miles in four years—half the warranty period. So forget about the eight years. Most people think in terms of time, but you should think about the 100,000 miles. Plenty of vehicles reach 100,000 miles in just three to four years.

What else about battery warranties is important? Well, typically, if the vehicle still has 70% of its battery capacity, it’s considered normal wear and tear. You have to get below 70% for the warranty to kick in. There are also a lot of exclusions, such as impact damage. If you get into an accident, they could say that caused the battery damage.

What about used vehicles? If you buy a used car, you’re probably going to buy one with miles on it. Even a low-mileage vehicle that has 50,000 or 60,000 miles on it will leave you with only a couple of years of battery warranty if you’re an average driver who drives 30 miles a day. That’s why it’s extremely important to have the battery tested and plan for that expense.

It’s not like a used gasoline car where you know you’re going to need brakes, shocks, and tires, which might cost a few hundred dollars per year. A replacement battery for an electric vehicle can be close to $10,000 or more. In some used vehicles, they don’t even make the batteries anymore, which means when the battery dies, the car is essentially totaled.

Do batteries die? Well, we all have cell phones. The battery in an electric vehicle is the same as your cell phone battery—lithium-ion in most cases. How long does your cell phone last? Have you had a cell phone for more than eight years? If you have, you’re a rare case. Most people replace their phones every two to three years.

Not all replacements are due to the battery, but one of the main reasons is that the phone slows down. And why does it slow down? Often, it’s because of the battery. Charging and discharging your phone every day wears the battery out. Similarly, you charge and discharge your electric vehicle every day, which impacts its battery life.

This information is based on current battery technology. Future batteries may be different, but if you’re looking at current electric vehicle acquisitions, whether new or used, you need to plan for this type of usage. It may or may not align with what you expect from a vehicle.

Let us know in the comments what you think about battery sustainability, longevity, and dependability. Do you think an electric vehicle battery will last long enough for you to depend on that vehicle for your transportation needs in the same way you would with a gasoline vehicle?

How are electric vehicle batteries tested? They are tested using static laboratory testing—charge and discharge simulations. These tests don’t necessarily reflect real-world usage, so it remains to be seen how these batteries will perform over time. Current electric vehicle owners may essentially serve as test cases to determine how these batteries hold up.

Make sure to get your battery tested, obtain good evaluations, and use your electric vehicle as a tool to save money on gas, keeping in mind that repair bills may differ significantly from those of gasoline vehicles.