EV Battery Degradation Calculator
All EV batteries lose capacity over time. See how much range you can expect to keep after 3, 5, 8 and 10 years — and how your habits change the math.
1. Your battery
Usable capacity — 60-82 typical.
2. Charging habits
Share of energy from DC fast chargers.
Heat accelerates degradation.
Now
After 5 years
After 8 years
After 10 years
Capacity over time
How to slow degradation
- Keep daily SoC between 20-80%. This alone can halve degradation speed.
- Charge to 100% only before trips. Don't let the car sit at 100% overnight.
- Use AC charging daily. Reserve DC fast charging for road trips.
- Avoid extreme heat. Park in the shade in summer; the pack stays cooler.
- Don't store it empty. Below 10% for weeks accelerates calendar aging.
How it's calculated
- Calendar aging (~3-4%/yr): the battery loses capacity even when parked.
- Cycle aging: depends on km/year and battery size (each full cycle ≈ 0.02-0.03% for NMC, less for LFP).
- Fast charging adds up to +1% extra per 10% share.
- 100% charges add ~+0.3% per charge per week.
- Climate: hot adds ~+0.5%/yr, cold has minimal calendar impact.
- Estimates based on real-world studies (Geotab, Recurrent). Individual results vary.
Worked example: 82 kWh NMC battery, 15,000 km/year
A typical 82 kWh NMC pack (like the Tesla Model 3) driven 15,000 km/year with 20% fast charging in a mild climate:
| Age | Capacity | Range (km) | Range loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| New | 100% | 549 | — |
| 3 years | 91.5% | 502 | −47 km |
| 5 years | 87.3% | 479 | −70 km |
| 8 years | 81.9% | 450 | −99 km |
| 10 years | 78.2% | 429 | −120 km |
After 10 years the car still covers 430 km — far beyond the daily commute for most drivers. That's why battery degradation rarely ends up being the reason people replace an EV.
Frequently asked questions
How fast do EV batteries degrade?
Most modern EV batteries retain 85-90% of capacity after 8 years or 200,000 km. Degradation is fastest in the first year (5-8%) then slows dramatically, so an EV battery typically outlasts the car itself.
Does fast charging damage the battery?
Regular fast charging adds modest extra degradation, but heat is the real enemy — hot batteries degrade faster. Modern EVs precondition the pack before charging, and the difference between AC and DC charging is small if you rarely charge to 100%.
Should I charge my EV to 100% every day?
For NMC batteries, keeping the daily charge between 20-80% noticeably slows degradation. Charge to 100% only before long trips. LFP batteries can be charged to 100% daily with minimal penalty.
At what point should I worry about battery health?
Below 70% capacity, range becomes frustrating and resale value drops sharply. Most manufacturers warranty the battery to 70% capacity for 8 years or 160,000 km — the point where a replacement starts making sense.
Can I slow down battery degradation?
Yes: keep SoC between 20-80%, avoid charging in extreme heat, limit 100% charges to trips, use AC charging for daily needs, park in the shade in summer and avoid letting the battery sit empty for weeks.