Picture this: You buy a brand-new electric vehicle. You love the smooth, silent, and exciting ride. After a few years, you notice that the range on your EV is not the same. Before, you could drive 300 km on a full charge. Now you can only drive 250 km on a full charge. What happened?

This is battery degradation. Battery degradation is normal when it comes to using any electric vehicle (EV). However, many people still don’t understand battery degradation or what causes it. In this article, we’ll explain in easy language why EV batteries degrade over time, what makes it worse, and how you can slow it down.

What Does Battery Degradation Mean?

Battery degradation means your EV battery is losing some of its capacity as time goes by. It is still working, but it cannot store as much energy as it could when it was new, which means your EV may not go as far on a full charge.

Battery degradation does not happen overnight, it happens slowly over months and years depending on how you use and charge your car.

Why EV Batteries Degrade: The Main Reasons

Let’s break it down simply. Here are the most common reasons why EV batteries degrade:

 1. Natural Aging

Batteries wear out just like people get older. Each time you charge your battery and discharge it, additional chemical changes happen inside the battery. Eventually, these changes lessen the ability of the battery to hold power.

2. High Temperatures

Heat is bad for EV batteries. When it gets above a certain temperature, the materials start to degrade faster. If you live in a hot part of the world, or if you park your car in the sun with the windows up, the battery will probably age quicker.

3. Fast charging often

Fast charging provides convenience, but it can stress the battery. Fast chargers increase battery temperature, and can degrade the battery faster with frequent use.

4. Charge to 100% or Drain to 0%.

Frequent full charging or draining the voltage to 0% can damage a battery’s life. Electric vehicle manufacturers have recommended that consumers keep a charge of somewhere between 20% and 80% on a regular basis.

5. Driving Habits

The aggressive driving like rapid speeding or sudden breaks can theoretically heat up the battery and reduce its life over time.

What Happens Inside the Battery?

To understand why EV batteries degrade, we need to look inside — but in a simple way.

Electric vehicles (EV’s) use lithium-ion batteries as a power source. Lithium-ion batteries work by utilizing movement of lithium ions between two components, called the anode and the cathode. Over time, these ions do not move as freely through the battery and some get “trapped.” This makes it substantially harder for the battery to hold and provide power. 

The battery also contains a “SEI” layer, or solid electrolyte interface, that develops each time the battery is charged. While the SEI layer serves a protective purpose, it also reduces the effective lithium content of the cell, and the thicker the SEI layer gets the less available energy the battery can store.

Rare Reasons Why EV Batteries Degrade (That Most People Don’t Know)

In addition to the common reasons, there are a number of less well-known reasons for battery degradation. Let’s look at: 

1. Poor software

Older EV models or inexpensive models may not have good battery management software. This means there may be situations where they will overcharge or allow the battery temperature to exceed normal limits.

2. Extended Time Between Trips

Leaving your EV unused alone for weeks or months will degrade the battery. Long periods of downtime are not preferred by lithium-ion batteries.

3. Shocking and Bumpy Roads

Regularly driving on extremely bumpy roads can cause some minor structure damage to the battery, particularly in EVs that do not have effective suspension systems.

4. Charging with Dirty Power

In areas with unstable electric power (variable or fluctuating voltage), using a home charger before surge protection installed, can affect battery health.

These reasons are not often mentioned, but it is valuable information to understand if you want to extend the life of your EV battery.

Myths about Battery Degradation

Let’s bust some myths:

 ❌ “50% of their capacity is lost by EV batteries in two years.”

Reality: Most batteries lose only about 1-2% every year.

 ❌ “Cold weather kills EV batteries.”

Reality: Cold weather cause a temporary loss of range but does not cause permanent damage unless you repeatedly freeze the battery.

 ❌ “Charging to 100% isn’t an issue.”

Reality: The battery may be stressed by daily charging to 100%. It should be brought to 100% just before a road trip.

Now that you know the truth, you’ll be taking better care of your electric vehicle.

What Is Normal Battery Degradation?

So, you might ask : how much degradation is too much?

Generally speaking, 1% to 2% degradation each year is considered normal. With that being said, after 5 years you will be looking at about 5% to 10% less range.

Here are a few examples:

EV Model	Expected Annual Degradation
Tesla Model 3	~1.5% per year
Tata Nexon EV	~2% per year
Hyundai Kona EV	~1.3% per year
MG ZS EV	~1.7% per year

These numbers can change based on how the car is used and where it’s driven.

Habits That Make Battery Degrade Faster

Avoid these things:

• Charging to 100% on a daily basis
• Letting your battery drop below 10%
• Using fast charging too often
• Aggressive driving
• Parking for weeks with low charge
• Parking in the sun

All of these things will degrade the battery. Understanding these habits helps us see why EV batteries degrade for some users more quickly than others.

How EV Battery Management Systems (BMS) Help

A BMS — Battery Management System is had by every new-age EV. More like a smart brain; it:

• Prevents overcharging,
• Balances all cells in the battery,
• Manages temperature, and
• Slows down degradation. 

A good BMS is one of the factors that makes brands like Tesla and Hyundai, have longer battery lives.

New Tech That Fights Battery Degradation

Electric vehicle technology is improving rapidly, and there are some innovative ideas helping to reduce wear and tear on batteries:

Solid-State Batteries

They are safer, lighter, and degrade slower than conventional lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state batteries are not widely used yet, but they are coming.

Liquid Cooling

Many EVs have systems that keep the battery at the proper temperature while charging or driving, which is helpful in hot climates.

AI Smart Charging

Smart EV chargers use AI to charge the battery in the safest manner. Some can even monitor your driving habits and automatically adjust the speed of the charging.

Simple things the driver can do to have longer-lasting batteries

Now that we know why EV batteries degrade, let’s look at how you can protect your own:

• Don’t always continue to 100%. For daily charge, it’s not necessary to go any more than 80%. 
• Don’t let the battery drop below 15%. 
• Avoid fast charge too frequently. 
• Park in the shade or a cool place. 
• Drive smoothly. 
• Use an original or manufacturer-approved charger. 

Following these easy tips can help keep your EV battery healthy for many years.

FAQs About EV Battery Degradation

Q: Is battery degradation avoidable? 

No, it’s natural. Positive practices can help you slow down.’ 

Q: Is it possible for my EV battery to run out after 5 years? 

No. Most EVs have an 8-10 year battery capacity. 

Q: Can a single battery cell be exchanged for another one?

Typically, entire modules or packs are replaced rather than individual cells. 

Q: Does it cost a lot to replace batteries? 

While it may be expensive at the moment, EV technology is leading the way in terms of cost savings.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Worry, Just Be Smart

It’s okay to be concerned about battery life. But now that you understand why EV batteries degrade, you’re better prepared to handle it.

Remember: battery degradation is natural. The speed with which it happens is entirely within your control. You can use your electric car for many years with ease by smart charging and regular usage, and by following some simple guidelines.