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Are you worried that the vehicle you buy today will become obsolete in a few years, just like an outdated laptop or smartphone sitting on a shelf? There’s no need to worry. The latest analysis of 500,000 battery performance tests conducted over the past 5 years confirms that, overall, electric vehicle batteries retain their performance exceptionally well over tens of thousands of kilometers. At the same time, it’s important to remember that the specific car you choose and how you use it can drastically change the overall picture.
The latest data was provided by Aviloo, a company specializing in battery system diagnostics. It compiled results from 0.5 million performance tests on 20 popular electric vehicle models. The testing of used vehicles took place from 2022 to 2026 in North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Aviloo’s final assessments reflect the percentage of the battery’s original usable capacity that remains available for use. In other words, a vehicle with a recorded battery health rating of 95% provides approximately 95% of its original range when fully charged. For each individual model, Aviloo calculated the median battery condition at three checkpoints: 50,000 km (31,068 miles), 100,000 km (62,137 miles), and 150,000 km (93,205 miles).
The test results revealed clear winners and underperformers, so let’s take a closer look at these figures.
After covering 50,000 km, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained the highest energy capacity of all test participants. In terms of range on a single charge, this model essentially remained as good as new, achieving a median result of over 97%. In second place was the Mercedes-Benz EQA (a compact crossover not sold in the U.S.) with a rating of 96.56%. All 20 models tested maintained median values above the 90% mark.
Even more encouraging is the fact that, with the exception of two outliers – the Renault Zoe and the previous-generation Nissan Leaf, which are among the few electric vehicles with air-cooled battery packs – the rest of the cars demonstrated a median degradation rate of about 94% or higher. Aviloo analysts emphasize that vehicles with smaller battery capacities (such as the compact Zoe and Leaf) experience accelerated degradation because they require more frequent charging to cover the same distance. These additional charging cycles gradually accumulate over time.
At the 100,000 km mark, the Ioniq 5 takes the lead again, retaining over 95% of its capacity. Other leaders included the EQA (95%), Hyundai Kona Electric (94.3%), BMW i4 (94.3%), and Ford Mustang Mach-E (93.45%). Excluding the aforementioned exceptions, absolutely all models showed a median retention rate of at least 90%.
Upon reaching 150,000 km of mileage, the median values for most models fell within the range of 90% to 94%. Only compact electric cars fell outside this range, such as the Mini Cooper SE (87.11%), Leaf (86.67%), and Zoe (87.33%). The Ioniq 5 and EQA models virtually tied for first place, demonstrating 93.79% and 93.97% residual capacity, respectively. Close behind were the i4 (93.62%), Kona EV (92.95%), and Volvo XC40 Recharge (92.79%).
Tesla’s representatives in this study – the Model Y and Model 3 – ended up in the middle and lower parts of the final list. At the 150,000 km mark, Model Y vehicles had a median battery health of 90.3%, while the Model 3 stood at 88.94%. The Ioniq 5 emerged as the clear favorite, winning in two categories and establishing itself as the true benchmark for durability within this study.
The published report confirms the findings of previous studies: mass-market electric vehicles retain the vast majority of their range (sometimes well over 90%) even after traveling approximately 160,934 km. Even the least efficient vehicles in this sample retained about 87% of their battery capacity after a long period of use.
The picture becomes more complex when the variation in final results is taken into account, which can be significant both between different models and within a single model line. In its analysis, Aviloo identified a range of values that covers 99% of vehicles for a specific model and mileage. The final values can deviate significantly, either above or below, from the median.
For the Model Y, after 241,402 km of mileage, this range is from 82.9% to 94.9%. For the i4, the figures range from 87.5% to 96.9%. For the Mustang Mach-E, the range is from 85.3% to 96.1%. In the case of the Model 3, the figures range from 80.28% to 94.53%. On the one hand, it’s surprising that some cars with similar mileage retain nearly 100% of their original battery capacity, while for others, this level may be significantly lower.
Aviloo representatives reported that operation in hot climates, regular use of fast-charging stations, and keeping a fully charged car at 100% for many hours explain this variation in the results. Design differences between models also play a significant role. Automakers use different battery chemistries, each with its own trade-offs, so even identical charging habits can lead to significantly different outcomes across different cars, an Aviloo representative noted in a letter. Studies also show that the actual age of the vehicle plays a role.
For owners and potential buyers of electric vehicles, these findings are mostly good news: batteries do not become useless after 160,934 km of driving. It appears that after covering such a distance, a reduction in range of approximately 10% is to be expected. However, this should not be taken as an absolute guarantee, as your choice of vehicle and how you drive it can significantly change the situation in the long term.
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