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Electric car battery capacity & lifespan

Understand more about electric car batteries, how long they're expected to last and how to make the most of your battery life.

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How does an electric car battery work?

Electric car batteries are usually lithium-ion batteries similar to the battery in your mobile phone. EV batteries are re-chargeable and need to be connected to a power supply - like a charger - to be replenished with power. Once your battery has been charged it uses this energy to power your cars electric motor and wheels.

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What's the lifespan of an electric car battery?

Most electric car battery warranties are for 7-8 years but you may get up to 10 years of use from your EV's battery before you need to replace it. Like other lithium-ion batteries , your car battery will degrade after numerous charge cycles but there are plenty of things you can do to help your battery last longer. The good news is electric car batteries can also be recycled and could even be used to power your home in the future.

3 simple tips to extend your battery's lifespan

Your battery will last longer if you only charge to around 80% and you're better to fill up before your battery's totally empty to prevent battery degradation and battery capacity reduction.

Charging overnight using a 7kW home charger is much more effective than regularly using rapid chargers. The fast charging speeds can reduce the capacity of your battery.

Accelerating too harshly can impact your battery performance and lifespan, so don't take off too rapidly at the lights. Take off smoothly and you'll help to increase your batteries longevity.

Battery range and capacity

How far you can get in an electric car on a full charge is an important question for many people when thinking of buying a new car. This is sometimes referred to as range anxiety. The good news is, EV manufacturer's are continually working to improve the range and capacity of their new vehicles with the Mercedes EQS claiming a huge 453 mile range from a single charge.²

Electric car battery capacity

Lithium-ion battery capacity is measured in kWh (Kilowatt hours). The average capacity is around 40kWh, but some cars now have up to a 100 kWh capacity. The battery capacity of your car will have a direct impact on its range. That's the amount of miles you can drive on a full charge, so the higher the kWh the better. As an example Nissan suggest that the 40kWh battery in it's Nissan Leaf model will give you a 168 mile range.¹

EV battery charging

The most convenient way to charge your EV battery is at home with a dedicated home charging station. They're much safer than a 3 pin plug and having the ability to charge at home means you can charge whilst you sleep.

We offer a range of home chargers, with installation included so if you're looking to make charging your car battery hassle free, we can help you out.

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Battery replacement

Replacement battery costs can vary depending on the make and model of your car. Though you probably won't need to replace the battery pack in your electric car for a very long time. They're expected to last around 500,000 miles and even if you do have problems with your battery the 7-8 year (on average) manufacturers warranty from most EV manufactures has you covered.