EV Battery Degradation: What's Normal?

You're worried your EV battery is degrading because the range has dropped since new.

What causes it

All lithium batteries lose a little capacity each year; the rate depends on chemistry, climate and charging habits.

What's normal

Year 1-2: a small initial drop (2-5%) as cells settle.
Years 3-8: roughly 1-2% per year with normal use.
After 8 years / 160,000 km: expect 85-92% capacity - well above warranty thresholds (usually 70%).

What accelerates degradation

Heat - the biggest factor; avoid charging in direct sun and heavy fast-charging in hot weather.
Deep discharges - below 10% often.
Storing at 100% for long periods.
Frequent very fast charging - for daily use, slow charging is gentler.

How to check yours

Use the car's battery-health screen or an OBD app to read SoH. Track it yearly. A loss below the brand's warranty threshold (usually 70% within 8 years) is covered.