Electric vehicle (EVs) sales have slumped in Britain, with the public struggling to fall in love with the technology.
A shortage of public chargers fuels ‘range anxiety’ among motorists worried about where they can top up their batteries, while high prices have also put off would-be buyers.
Now, a report has revealed how quickly the battery degrades in EVs.
Experts from Which? surveyed over 3,500 EV owners to understand how much the range of their car has decreased since they bought it.
Their results show that for cars registered just seven years ago, the average range decreased by seven per cent.
‘Like all batteries, the cells that power an EV will degrade over time,’ Which? explained in the report.
‘However, our data shows that while battery degradation in EVs is an issue, it’s not as bad as you might think in the first few years of ownership.’
The report comes shortly after a surprising study claimed that EVs are even more reliable than traditional cars and vans with petrol and diesel engines.
Experts from Which? surveyed over 3,500 EV owners to understand how much the range of their car has decreased since they bought it (stock image)
The report comes shortly after a surprising study claimed that EVs are even more reliable than traditional cars and vans with petrol and diesel engines
Which? set out to understand whether or not potential EV buyers should be worried about the lifespan of their batteries.
‘Anyone with a laptop or smartphone will have experienced the inevitable reduction in the charge held by the battery, and how long the device can subsequently run before it needs a top up,’ it explained in the report.
‘Unsurprisingly, this is also a common worry among people that are looking to buy their first electric car.’
The consumer champion surveyed 3,595 EV owners who had purchased their vehicles over the past seven years, and asked them by how much the range of their car had decreased.
The results revealed that for cars registered in either 2017 or 2018, the average range decrease to today was seven per cent.
‘So, if your car’s range when new was 180 miles (around the average for all EVS we’ve tested), you could expect this to drop to 167 miles,’ Which? said.
EV owners who purchased their car in 2019 or 2020 saw a four per cent decrease, while those who bought theirs in 2021, 2022, 2023, or 2024 reported a three per cent decrease in range.
Which? highlights that it’s the number of times you charge your car (and to an extent how fast your charger is) that will affect your battery’s lifespan.
Which? highlights that it’s the number of times you charge your car (and to an extent how fast your charger is) that will affect your battery’s lifespan
| Year of registration | Average remaining range |
|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 97% |
| 2021-2022 | 97% |
| 2019 – 2020 | 96% |
| 2017-2018 | 93% |
‘The average annual mileage for all EV respondents in our survey was 6,001 miles, so if you drive fewer miles than that in a year, you may see better figures,’ it added.
The researchers warn that if you live in a cold country like the UK, the weather could also impact your battery’s capacity.
‘Some studies have shown cars can lose as much as 40% of their range in cold weather, although it varies car by car,’ Which? said.
‘Not only do EVs not go as far in cold weather, they also charge more slowly.’
While many manufacturers offer seven or eight-year warranties for their EV batteries, Which? says that the terms often require a specific threshold of range to be met.
For example, some might say that you’re only entitled to a replacement if you battery’s ‘health’ drops below 70 per cent.
‘Keep in mind, though, that a 30% drop in range is a significant chunk which could affect your ability to make some journeys free of interruptions for charging stops so if you’re buying an EV now and don’t plan on trading it in, consider the worst-case scenario where your battery is at 70% health and it’s a cold day,’ Which? said.
The report comes as sales of electric cars have slowed in Britain.
A shortage of public chargers fuels ‘range anxiety’ among motorists worried about where they can top up their batteries, while high prices have also put off would-be buyers.
Electric vehicles run on energy from a charged battery much like a smartphone but come with hefty pricetags – around £46,000 on average in the UK.
‘Electric vehicles typically cost more upfront,’ say Milad Haghani, lecturer in urban analytics at UNSW Sydney, and Hadi Ghaderi, a supply chain professor at Swinburne University of Technology, in a piece for The Conversation.
‘Sales have slowed in parts of Europe and the United States often due to reduced incentives, but strong sales growth continues in other regions such as China and India.’
The two experts say a ‘flood of cheaper Chinese vehicles’ is lowering the cost barrier.
However, these Eastern exports have triggered surveillance fears.
Another ‘major issue’ for car buyers is uncertainty about an electric model’s resale value compared to a standard petrol or diesel, the researchers point out.
‘Consumers are concerned electric vehicles depreciate faster than traditional cars… these concerns are particularly tied to battery degradation, which affects a car’s range and performance over time.’
Meanwhile, EV fires have made headlines globally – including a high-profile battery fire in a Korean parking lot in August – creating doubts among consumers.
