What Is The Lifespan Of An Electric Car?

Lifespan of an electric car

In the world of electric-powered cars, it is very important to know what is the average lifespan of an electric car. The electric car is one of the best replacements for gasoline-powered cars. Let’s know how long electric vehicles can last. What Is The Lifespan Of An Electric Car?

As per the reports and information, the average lifespan of an electric car is up to 100,000 miles to 200,000 miles which is projected to last for the next 15 to 20 years. However, the average miles of electric vehicles are not only the criteria for measuring the lifespan of an electric car. Regular maintenance and services are also very important in increasing the lifespan of an electric car.

VehicleLifespan in MilesLifespan in years
Electric cars100,000 to 200,000 Miles15 to 20 years

The demand for electric cars is increasing like fire as it has more advantages over gasoline-powered cars. The main motto of the electric car industry is to bring the nation towards solar power energy. All are aware if we will not stop using fossil fuels, it will only last for a few more years.

The current industry of electric cars is evolving beyond expectation and they are constantly looking to add more life to electric cars. Comparing the two vehicles with the different powered engines like the gasoline or electric car, it is seen that Evs can go over 120,000 miles more than electric cars.

The current prediction about the lifespan of an electric car’s lifespan states that the average electric car can nearly last about 20-25 if the car is properly maintained and well-ridden. Yes, the thing is very clear, if you want to add more life to the cars, you should have to do extra care and maintenance of it.

If the electric vehicles are regularly used and pass extreme conditions with tough riding, in this scenery, Evs can last around 15-20 with the headache of expensive repairs. So, dealing with a lifespan of an electric car is very crucial and most of the users are worried about it.

Vehicle categoryAverage lifespan in years/Miles
Electric Vehicle11.8 to 12.4 years/ 13,500 Miles
Gasoline powered cars10 to 15 years/ 150,000 Miles

But now, it’s time to eliminate all your worries because we’ll discuss all the queries and well potential information about the average lifespan of an electric car. So, make sure to read the whole information.

How to Improve the Lifespan of an Electric Car?

The lifespan of the electric car is one of the deciding factors when introducing EVs. The overall lifespan of an electric car indicates how long your EV may last. The best scenario with electric cars, you can easily add more years to the lifespan of your EVs. Do you know what your methods are?

You can increase the overall life expectancy of electric cars by following these basic guidelines.

  1. Keep your EV clean

Keeping your EV clean is always recommended which avoids rust and corrosion to the battery which is positioned underneath the body of the vehicle. It is especially important to keep the battery area clean as it reduces rust and corrosion which can save your damage.

Rusting and corrosion to the battery will damage the charging point and other electronic components which may put your electric car life at risk because the repair of these parts needs high expenses and sometimes can’t be borne by the owners.

  1. Follow Recommended Schedule And Maintenance

Let me first clear you, electric cars don’t require maintenance and services as other gasoline cars require. But the thing is electric cars should be taken to the repair shop regularly to counter any faults and damage to the equipment.

Regularly checking the faults and damage of the EVs makes it last longer rather than visiting the repair shop with lots of issues. It is recommended that if you’re driving an electric car then you should never avoid any faults by saying it is normal.

Even small faults in the electric car are very risky, so it is always recommended to keep an eye on the maintenance and service report of electric cars. You should visit the car dashboard regularly to notice any schedule and maintenance.

  1. Drive well and brake slowly

You can’t drive your electric car just like the other conventional cars because drastic riding may not be more efficient for the electric cars. Heavy driving may also create huge wear and tear to vehicles.

So, driving the electric car at a steady pace is meant to the more energy efficient and less wear and tear. You can expect higher mileage if you drive it carefully and at a steady pace.

You all know electric cars use regenerative braking systems to supply power to the battery and add extra miles. Heavy braking discipline may damage the brake pads and regenerative braking system. So, if you want to keep all the functions and power of the car in normal condition, you have to follow the instructions.

  1. Consider Extreme Temperature

Extreme temperatures cause more wear and tear to electric vehicles. However, electric vehicles have thermal management cooling systems to prevent the battery pack from overheating.

But, above the thermal management cooling system, the battery of the electric car can be impacted because of the extreme climate and impact on the battery longevity.

Hot climates can lead to battery degradation faster while cold weather can reduce the performance of the battery. So, if you are looking to increase the lifespan of an electric car, you should always be mindful of the temperature.

  1. Cut down Fast Charging

Fast charging is a slow and continuous process to the end of the electric car’s lifespan. Fast charging is good for long trips or when you are in a hurry. Frequent use of fast charging impacts the overall potential and power of the battery.

Most of the owners invest in home charging stations that allow the users to charge their battery overnight which affects the prolongation of the battery. So, if you also want to increase the lifespan of your electric car, you should mind it.

How Long Do Electric Cars Last Compared To Conventional Cars?

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The average lifespan of the electric car can never be stated in numbers as it depends on many factors. But considering the question, we’ll answer which car has the most lifespan.

Estimating the lifespan of electric cars and conventional cars is complicated because each vehicle has a different part and every part has its own life. Just as an example, a conventional car may drive you a long way by increasing your expenses while the EV car may drive you the same distance with less expense.

The life rate of two different cars can’t be stated by looking at the numbers of how many miles they cover in a single year. This is more dependent on how you drive and maintain your car full year.

The components of the electric car may be lost longer than the conventional part while what about others? The replacement of lithium-ion batteries is expensive compared to the parts of conventional cars.

According to the survey of the Federal Highway Administration, the average household car is driven up to 10,200 miles every year with newer cars or up to 5 years old cars. It can be further extended to 11,500 to 13,500 miles annually.

The US has an average car age of 11.8 years to 12.4 years. The exact figures of the years depend on the model, while gasoline-powered cars can easily last around 10-15 years with a coverage of 150,000 miles.

How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last?

As drivers are replacing themselves with electric cars because they have tons of advantages over gasoline cars. As per the report, electric cars are expected to represent two third of passenger vehicles with electric cars. Do you know how long your car batteries can last over gasoline cars?

Generally, all-electric vehicles’ batteries last for 10-20 years. This is the average lifespan of an electric car battery. If the car battery is treated properly. Certain factors may reduce the lifespan of EVs. The factors are hotter or colder climates, rough driving, lots of running accessories, fast charging, continuous charging, etc.

If you are desiring to make the battery lifespan of your electric car longer then you have to watch and follow all the circumstances which increase the battery life of EVs. Electric cars are becoming more popular and are hoping for a huge switch of users. To implement this, the EVs industry is making big replacements in their battery technology.

Yes, manufacturers are trying to increase the overall life of the EVs battery because every electric user is desiring a longer lifespan. In short, you can expect new battery rival performance in the coming future.

The EVs battery basics

All electric cars are powered by high-performance lithium-ion batteries which are rechargeable and packed with dense energy. The battery includes lead acid found in internal combustion. This is usually found in hybrid or rechargeable batteries.

The meaning of lithium-ion high energy density is, the battery can produce more power for its size which makes it ideal for electric cars. The battery pack is the main reason behind the performance of electric cars.

When we talk about gasoline-powered cars, they include lead-acid batteries while EVs use lithium-ion batteries which have more power and high-performance delivery. The same batteries are used in cell phones, laptop which has greater density to deliver long hours of power.

The lithium-ion battery has a higher potential to quickly take charge and make it last longer. These batteries hold a charge for a long time which increases the overall mileage of an electric car. The electric battery capacity is denoted by the KWh or kilowatt-hours.

The KWh or the mileage of the vehicles directly depends on the car battery capacity. If you have more Kwh in your vehicles, the longer you can ride. The kWh rating also helps in getting a proper idea of how long your battery lasts and how far you can travel.

The life expectancy of EVs battery

As per the USA report, all EV battery comes with a warranty of a minimum of 8 years or up to 100,000 miles. You should always familiarise yourself with the warranty terms of your battery because replacing your car batteries without a warranty may cost you a higher amount. Just an example, manufacturers like Hyundai offer lifetime warranty coverage while KIA offers 10- a year of battery warranty.

Showing the battery stats in the years, the EVs battery can easily last around 10-20 years if it is ridden well and properly maintained. The battery condition can be easily affected by the weather and riding conditions.

Battery protection

As we discussed above the battery of the Evs may be damaged because of the heat and it can directly affect the overall lifespan of the electric vehicles. Extreme heat temperatures are the enemy of EVs battery and the same with the cold temperature.

These things not only reduce the lifespan of the battery but can also hamper the performance of your electric vehicles. As per the information, it is recommended that the temperature should be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit for the optimal performance of the electric cars.

The complexity of thermal management depends on the model and brands as to how effectively they manage it. To stay the vehicles at the optimal temperature, liquid cooling technology is usually involved as it is one of the effective and best ways to keep the temperature in control.

The only thing is you can’t do any activity with the battery charging as almost all the battery tends to degrade after a cycle. Battery degradation is a very slow and normal process that is usually seen after 10 to 15 years of 100,000 miles of travel.

You can’t fully deplete or charge the battery even if you are not able to ride your car at 0% then also the battery preserves some charge to improve the longevity of battery potential. This helps in improving the overall performance and power of the battery.

Replacement of Battery

Fortunately or unfortunately, if you run out of the battery warranty and you are facing damage to your battery. As the battery gets damaged the overall power and performance of the battery are reduced. So, what to do in these conditions?

Replacing your EV car batteries with the new pack can cost you around $10,000 to $15,000 and in some, it may also increase. But if your battery is holding a warranty, then you can repair it at less cost.

As per the information, manufacturers are continuously trying to do every possible way to increase the lifespan of Ev batteries. As per the stats, today’s market batteries degrade 2 to 3 percent every year and after 5 years it is up to 15 %. But you will access longer miles with the new battery technology.

In short buying, a new pack of batteries can put you in a hepatic sum. Generally, all EV batteries last around 15 to 20 years, so you don’t have to worry more about the lifespan of EVs. All you have to do is avoid certain factors like heat, cold, swift charging, etc which negatively affect the lifespan of EVs.

Every car battery faces degradation, so you shouldn’t worry more about battery degradation if you are planning to shift toward an electric car. Battery degradation is a normal and slow process that easily takes you up to 25 years of use.

How to extend the battery life of EVs?

cropped-Chevy-EV.jpg

Battery degradation is a slow and inevitable process that can’t be avoided under any circumstances. But there are some ways through which you can add some years to your EVs battery. The factors are highlighted below.

  • Maintain Moderate Temperature

As we have discussed more the battery reduction is because of the extreme heat and cold temperature. Let me remind you once more. If you are watching to extend the battery lifespan, then you have to maintain a lower operating temperature in your EVs.

Taking your car to extreme heat or cold temperature puts a negative impact on the battery life. If you are living in a warmer climate try to park your vehicles in a well-shaded area and if you enter a cold climate, you should park it at an optimal temperature area.

By considering these factors you can add another life to your car battery.

  • Don’t charge your EV battery overnight

A proper charging schedule is the best way to increase the lifespan of the battery As irregular charging affects the overall health of the battery. It is stated that regular charging schedules damage the power and performance of the battery.

Charging your vehicles fully every time puts strain on the battery and the capacity of the battery is reduced because of the continuous strain. This affects the power of the battery in fractions and regulating working on this model increases the rate of battery reduction.

To avoid the compounding faction you shouldn’t plug your battery full night. If the charging gets completed you should unplug the charger. It is recommended that you should only charge your vehicles when it is needed.

People start charging their vehicles even if the battery is up to 50% charged. So, if you want to increase the lifespan of a battery you should consider these factors.

Always Charge Between 20% to 80%

It is always recommended that you should only charge your electric car battery up to 80 to 90%. You should never charge your car batteries up to 1005 as it is not beneficial to your battery health.

Charging your battery fully reduces the flow of electric charge and the power of the battery which results in less performance of the battery. The electric car battery included lithium-ion batteries which have a high tendency to store large amounts of energy when required.

It is also said that frequently draining your car batteries leads to less battery life. The frequent process of draining your battery to 0% may damage the car battery completely and you have to often go with the battery replacement process.

It is advised to charge your battery when the battery goes beyond 20% and charge only up to 80%. Never let the battery die completely. You can charge your battery up to 100% once a week or if you ever plan to go on long trips. Always remember, you can only charge your battery up to 100% once or twice a week.

  • Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines

All the brands and manufacturers have different guidelines to take care of the battery. To keep the car battery in optimal performance you should look at the specific guidelines as well as software updates.

Each manufacturer includes different battery chemistry and cooling technology and has their own optimal operating and charging instructions.

  • You Should Avoid Rapid Charging

If you are willing to encounter less battery degradation then our recommendation is to minimize the frequency of rapid charging facilities. Occasionally using DCRC to charge your vehicles is okay but making the process regular may disrupt the power and performance of the battery.

This is one of the efficient solutions to boost battery degradation as frequent and rapid charging is a major factor in battery degradation.

How Long Do EV Warranties Last

One of the considerations while buying an electric car is the warranty period. These determine how long the life the manufacturer is expecting for the different parts of the car. This will give you a proper idea of how long your expenses can go if you ever plan for the repair.

A piece of clear-cut information about battery warranty describes the expense which you have to pay from your pocket or for which the company will bear all the expense. Warranty varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Different brands and manufacturers have their warranty and terms of the warranty. So, to get all these you have to fully go through the warranty guidelines.

Federal law requires that the battery of electric vehicles should last for 8 to 10 years or can easily cover 100,000 miles. But the other components may have shorter warranties which may be 3 years or 36,000 miles but the warranty of the battery remains the same.

As per the report, California requires electric car batteries to last for 10 years or approx to 150,000 miles. Currently, this rule is only applied to electric or hybrid cars, not battery electric vehicles.

Some EVs brands like Hyundai come with a lifetime warranty while KIA offers a warranty of up to 8 years. The lifetime warranty of the Hundia is only applicable for battery failure but battery degradation is only covered for 3 years.

Another thing to know is that the warranty can only be made by the real owner of the vehicle, so if you ever plan to buy any used model then you should research the real owner of the vehicle.

The terms and conditions of the warranties are very confusing but the fact is almost all the EVs warranties last for around 8 to 10 years. The warranty of the brands or manufacturers gives little indication of the life expectancy of the product.

In short, if you are planning to buy an EV model, you must check about the warranty and many more terms of the warranty. Purchasing a long warranty model has a higher life expectancy and low-cost repairs.

How Charging Affects the Battery Lifespan of Electric Cars?

Even if you are in your home charging, it is not a proven way to increase Ev’s state of charge. Charging your electric cars at home often occurs during long periods such as overnight charging, continuous charging, etc.

Home charging represents slower speed charging which rarely represents itself as a problem. Though it is not the quickest way to charge your battery. Prolonged charging of the battery reduces the power-holding capacity of the battery.

Convenient chargers tend to degrade more batteries at a quicker rate as compared to the lesser charging options. So, if you are expecting more power and performance from your car batteries then try to avoid unnecessary fast charging options.

These fast charging may charge your battery quickly as compared to the lesser charging method but it may also damage your battery cells. The batteries in the electric car are capable of handling fast charging when they need it so, for this, you don’t have to worry more. The best way to avoid the fast charging in your EVs is to pre-plan your trip by looking at your battery percentage.

Many electric car manufacturers include settings to adjust the battery percentage of the vehicles as they also recommend charging the battery up to 80 to 90%. This battery percentage is applicable for daily use.

  • EV Battery Recycling

The battery of an electric car is not only just for maintenance. It is also one concern of the environment. It is also right that electric cars are better for the environment as compared to gasoline-powered cars. But this is also a concern about what happens to electric car batteries.

The electric car also has a footprint when it comes to designing new batteries and embedding them in electric cars but less than conventional cars. Just elaborating with the example, electric cars use lithium-ion batteries which use rare minerals of the earth like nickel, cobalt, and manganese.

If the EVs industry constantly starts to produce these batteries for the electric car then there will be sure shortage of the mineral even if it may exhaust. The continuous usage of minerals will shortage of the earth’s minerals.

As per the reports, to save natural resources lawyers are proposing a bill for the battery and critical mineral recycling Act of 2020. The programs will help in boosting the recycling power so, that natural resources can be saved for more time.

Later, manufacturers are only using resources and making their batteries without having any tendency to recycle them. But now, things are completely changed, and manufacturers are imposing technology to recycle their battery and reuse it.

There are plenty of options to use car batteries if they are no longer suitable for powering the electric car. It can be used at home for powering the bulb, motors, and many more home appliances. Some automakers like Toyota, and Volkswagen are running a program to give their batteries a second life.

It is a good concern for EV drivers what happens to the EV battery after it gets damaged.

  • Safety And Maintenance of Electric car

Safety is a big issue when selecting a car. Don’t worry, electric cars have all the safety standards that other passenger vehicles have. Electric vehicles are equipped with all the safety standards and passed all the safety ratings like conventional cars.

All the electric cars sold in the united states of America held the same safety standard as passenger vehicles. But using an electric car is not as easy as conventional cars.

The battery packs of electric vehicles are required to fit in a sealed shell and be able to avoid all the conditions like extreme temperature, overcharging, fires, accidents, water immersion, vibration, etc.

EVs use high voltage lines which deactivate all the electrical systems in the case of fire or crash vehicles. Battery cars often grab fire very easily and it is less likely to fight to fire the electric cars.

Even if the fire gets out, I have to consult the local fire department to put the fire out. So, it is always stated to keep your electric car away from the firing range, as it is more likely to catch fire.

An electric car driver should always keep their eye on the maintenance of the electric car because regular maintenance of the electric cars has more advantages. You as an owner should keep an eye on coolant, refrigerant, windshield wash, tire, brake pads, and rotors. Cars with the regenerative braking system put less wear and tear on the braking bits.

Conclusion

Conclusion#1: Lifespan of an Electric Car

The number of electric cars on the road is increasing and selecting an EV that has a longer lifespan makes your investment worthwhile. Generally, electric vehicles have an average life of 15 to 20 years if it is properly maintained and serviced. You can also expect higher life if you drive it well through the year.

Conclusion#2: Battery Life of the electric car

Battery lifespan is one of the main considerations for all-electric vehicle owners. They expect higher-powered batteries that last for a long time and never hamper their performance. The average lifespan of electric car batteries is 10- 20 years. Most of EVs manufacturers provide 8 to 10 years of battery warranty.

FAQs

What are the 3 disadvantages of electric cars?

Electric cars have tons of disadvantages over advantages. An electric car can travel less distance than a gasoline-powered car as t has a shorter range than gas-powered cars. Purchasing an electric car can be very expensive.  All electric cars require long hours to get the car battery fully charge.

Do electric cars lose charge when parked?

Electric car loses very minimal charge when it is parked. The reduction of electricity is because the car battery gives a continuous power supply to some of the car accessories which turns into little battery degradation. Some car systems require a constant supply of power which sucks a small amount of battery percentage.

Are electric cars the future?

The demand for electric cars is increasing rapidly as the market has lots of cars that are delivering good mileage. Mileage is the key factor in the electric car that is what the manufacturers of the electric car understand and make innovations for bringing more miles to the electric cars. Hopefully, the future can shift conventional cars into electric cars.

What happens if my electric car runs out of power on the road?

The scenario will be the same as the conventional car as soon as the power of the vehicle exhausts like the diesel fuel engine, your car will stop automatically. In the case of electric cars, you have to tow your vehicle with the roadside service truck to the nearest charging station. After reaching the charging station, you can charge your battery to reach the next destination.

Is an electric car good for a long drive?

The market has lots of electric cars and they have their own range and battery power. Depending on which model you are using and what are the average miles of your EVs. You should never harry for taking your EV on a long trip as you might stuck in the middle of the highway. Before planning for long trips fully charge your battery.

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Bharat Suthar

I am principal creator of electriccarexperience.com. I like riding Electric Car, UTV in mountains and Terrain, Also I try to share all the real life experience here in the site.I am really dedicated to write about my experience. I love doing all the outdoor activity including riding electric car, dirt biking and hiking.

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