Degradation for electric vehicle batteries is “low, predictable and far below common misconceptions”, latest research from Arval reveals.

Analysis shows EV battery longevity is far superior to market perceptions

Contrary to persistent concerns about battery ageing, the analysis of 24,000 state of health (SoH) certificates for electric vehicle batteries confirms a longevity far superior to market perceptions.

The research reveals that battery degradation is slow and progressive: following a slight initial decrease, batteries drop around 1% every 25,000km (c.15,500 miles).

At 70,000km (around 43,500 miles), the battery displays 93% remaining capacity on average.

And at 160,000km (c.100,000 miles) or after six years of use, SoH remains above 90%.

The latest study also shows that modern EV batteries exhibit 2-3% higher SoH compared to earlier generations. This is due to improvements in design, cooling and energy management systems.

The updated analysis follows Arval’s research last year that revealed EV battery health remains high even after vehicles have racked up 100,000-plus miles on the road. The leasing company is the first to offer a battery State of Health certificate when reselling an electric vehicle.

Arval says EV battery longevity remains widely underestimated by buyers and the market in general

Arval has now issued more than 30,000 SoH certificates for EV batteries ahead of vehicle resale, and the latest edition of the research is based on an extended base of 24,000 certificates; three times more data than in the study released early 2025.

Arval said the new results confirm, reinforce and refine the initial findings that batteries retain an excellent performance level over time, far beyond market perceptions and buyers’ concerns.

Pascal Seeger, global remarketing director at Arval, elaborated: “This is very good news for used car buyers, who can be confident in the durability and reliability of electric vehicle batteries over the long run. By providing consolidated and comparable data, we help remove barriers to buying used electric vehicles and accelerate the development of a more transparent and reliable market.”

Arval also warned that battery longevity remains widely underestimated by buyers and the market in general.

By providing battery health certificates, the leasing specialist is boosting confidence in used EV performance, removing a key barrier to adoption.

Gary Burns, director of procurement and remarketing, Arval UK

Gary Burns, director of procurement and remarketing, Arval UK, said: “As electric vehicles move into the used market in greater volumes, transparency around battery condition is increasingly important. We want our customers to be able to purchase our vehicles with confidence, which is why battery health testing has become a significant part of our Remarketing process. Encouragingly, the results we’re seeing show that batteries in used electric vehicles stand up well in real-world use, helping to reassure buyers considering this fuel type.”

Future European regulations (Euro 7 and battery regulation) will introduce a standardised display of the state of health, which will become SOCE – State of Certified Energy.

By 2027, battery health will be visible directly on the dashboard of new models, and each battery will have a Battery Passport tracing its history and certified capacity.

Arval says these advances will support a used market that is more structured, more readable and more reliable for both individuals and businesses.

Arval’s analysis is based on 24,000 certificates carried out in 11 countries, covering a mix of BEVs (66%) and PHEVs (33%).

The evaluated vehicles come from around 30 brands and were marketed by Arval between March 2023 and September 2025.