- A used car broker analyzed the battery condition of more than 1,000 used electric vehicles.
- Most vehicles retain 90% or more of their original battery capacity.
- Kia EV6 showed the least degradation of all models tested
A Swedish used car broker analyzed the battery performance of more than 1,300 used electric vehicles and hybrids to determine whether the age and mileage of used electric models should deter buyers lured by low prices on the used market.
After all, electric cars are virtually maintenance-free because fewer mechanical parts reduce the risk of wear and tear, meaning battery health—or how much usable capacity the battery has lost over time—is a key concern for buyers.
Used car broker Kvdkar conducted research (via Inside electric cars), which essentially analyzed the available battery health (SoH) reports for a variety of used electric vehicles. Eight out of ten vehicles in a sample of 1,366 vehicles (723 all-electric and 643 plug-in hybrids) were found to retain 90% or more of their originally stated battery capacity.
Despite Kia EV6 Statistically coming out on top by consistently showing a battery SoH result of 90% or more, the study authors stated that battery SoH is more dependent on climate and overall usage rather than a manufacturer's individual battery technology.
“It's not really about the typical car or the typical car manufacturer. It’s more related to wear, that’s our analysis,” said Martin Reinholdsson, testing manager at Kvdbil.
“Age, climate, driving style and charging habits: these play a pretty significant role in wear and tear,” he added.
While Kvdbil emphasizes that these “lifestyle” factors are important, it's also worth noting that Kia was the brand with the highest battery health scores. Let's EV6 and Kia e-Niro were the models with the highest SoH, while the Kia Sportage and Optima were the plug-in hybrid cars with the best battery health.
Kia is clearly doing something right.
Healthy used car market
A number of studies have confirmed that electric vehicle batteries degrade much more slowly than previously thought.
In fact, a study of 8,300 battery health certificates conducted British leasing company Arval found an average battery health of 93%.
Even after 124,000 miles, which any used car salesman would consider high mileage, the average remained close to 90%.
Not relying on the fastest charging outlets, not letting the battery run below 10%, and only charging up to 80% can significantly increase the life of an EV's battery – these are points that need to be made clear to many potential owners.
However, these battery SoH studies could help improve the low residual values that plague some EV models, especially those from more premium brands.
If consumer confidence is bolstered by the fact that an electric vehicle can still provide excellent ride, range and peak charging performance even after thousands of miles of driving, it can help improve the used vehicle's value.
While this isn't great news for those looking for a used electric car, it will increase its popularity among new car buyers who are currently sitting on the fence and reduce the general uneasiness currently felt in the auto industry as a whole.
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