The batteries on electric vehicles that predominantly use ultra-fast charging to top up degrade at twice the speed of those that use ordinary chargers. That’s the finding from new analysis of 22,700 electric vehicles across 21 makes and models by Geotab.
However, the survey also concluded that whatever method of charging is chosen, vehicle batteries should last during normal fleet cycles without having to be replaced.
In its updated EV battery health study, the company analysed real-world battery health data, drawing on several years of aggregated telematics information. The updated analysis shows an average annual battery degradation rate of 2.3%, compared to 1.8% in Geotab’s 2024 findings.
EV lifespan can be a concern, particularly as adoption accelerates across commercial and public-sector fleets. By understanding how batteries age under different charging, climate and utilisation conditions, operators can better manage EV performance, protect battery health and make more informed decisions about vehicle deployment and charging strategy over the life of the vehicle.
Charlotte Argue, senior manager, sustainable mobility at Geotab, said: “EV battery health remains strong, even as vehicles are charged faster and deployed more intensively.
“Our latest data shows that batteries are still lasting well beyond the replacement cycles most fleets plan for. What has changed is that charging behaviour now plays a much bigger role in how quickly batteries age, giving operators an opportunity to manage long-term risk through smart charging strategies.”
The analysis shows vehicles that relied heavily on DC fast charging above 100kW experienced faster degradation, averaging up to 3.0% per year, compared with around 1.5% for vehicles that primarily used AC or lower-power charging.
Other factors, such as climate, showed a smaller independent effect. Vehicles operating in hot regions degraded around 0.4% faster per year than those in mild climates.
The data also challenges the need for strict day-to-day charging constraints. Vehicles that regularly used a wider state-of-charge range did not show meaningfully higher degradation unless they spent prolonged, habitual periods near full or near empty charge levels.
