EV batteries now last far longer than many buyers expect

For years, one of the biggest knocks against electric vehicles has been the fear of an eye-wateringly expensive battery replacement. But recent data suggests many consumers may be worrying about yesterday's technology, not today's.

Battery tech has come a long way

Replacement costs for batteries are cited as the No. 1 reason potential buyers avoid EVs, according to a recent AutoPacific survey.

That concern wasn't unfounded when EVs first started to regain steam among US buyers a decade-and-a-half ago, with an estimated 1 in 12 EVs built between 2011-16 eventually needing a battery replacement (~8.5%), per the WSJ.

But modern EVs are a different story. A miniscule 0.3% of EVs built since 2022 have required a battery replacement to date, according to battery analytics firm Recurrent.

• The average EV also retains up to 95% of its original driving range after five years on the road, outperforming what many in the auto industry expected.
• Additionally, the cost of batteries has fallen by 90%+ since 2010, as manufacturers increasingly design batteries so individual sections can be replaced, rather than the entire unit.

Improvements in battery chemistry, battery-management software, and cooling systems have also contributed to the positive change.

Concerns haven’t disappeared entirely. Batteries that rely heavily on high-power DC fast charging lose range about twice as quickly as batteries charged at lower power, forcing drivers to pony up as much as $16,000 for out-of-warranty replacements.

Regularly charging to 100%, letting the battery sit at 0% for long periods, and driving in extreme hot or cold weather can also accelerate battery degradation or reduce driving range.

Zoom out: US enthusiasm for EVs has waned following the Trump admin’s decision to end EV subsidies and emissions regulations, with sales down ~25% year-over-year so far in 2026. But analysts say the overall trend of growing adoption is expected to continue, with EV market share projected to double to 11% of all new-car sales in the US by 2030.