Electric car batteries explained (2025 update)

New technology always raises new questions, and electric car batteries are no exception. For instance, how long do electric car batteries hold their charge? How long will they last before needing replacement? Can they be recycled? And how long does it take to charge them nowadays?
Let’s take a fresh look at the latest advancements in electric car batteries, including maintenance techniques to prolong battery lifespan and how to get the best value for your investment.

Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) rely solely on electricity stored in a battery pack to power an electric motor that drives the wheels.
Hybrid electric vehicles switch between, or blend, a petrol engine and electric motor to prioritise efficiency or power. This can be done automatically, or by selecting different drive modes. Learn more about hybrids and alternative fuel types here.

• Kilowatt-hours (kWh): A measure of battery capacity. Your car may display miles/kWh or kWh/100km (or kWh/100 miles).
• Ampere-hours (Ah): Represents the charge delivered by a battery. For a comparison with kWh, use: current (Amps) × voltage = power (Watts).

Modern electric vehicles primarily use lithium-ion batteries since they’re efficient and durable. Emerging technologies like solid-state batteries promise faster charging (as little as 10 minutes) and extended range, with major manufacturers like BMW and Toyota planning production and MG set to launch first electric car with solid-state battery in 2025.
Less commonly used battery types include nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), lead-acid, and ultracapacitors.

Just like your phone, you need to recharge the battery when it gets low. You can charge your electric vehicle at home, which is the cheapest and easiest option.
But if you can’t get a home charger, public and workplace chargers are available.

On average, you’ll get 200-300 miles per charge, though this varies by model and driving conditions. City driving with frequent stops may result in a longer range per charge thanks to regenerative braking, while highway driving typically consumes more energy.

Electric vehicles are typically cheaper to fuel and maintain than petrol or diesel cars. However, insurance may be higher, and battery leases (if applicable) add to costs. Calculate your total expenses, including charging, servicing, and insurance, to determine the best model for you.
See how much it costs to charge an electric car here.

Most electric car batteries are designed to last 8 to 20 years, with warranties typically covering 8 to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Some electric vehicles, like the Mercedes EQS, boast ranges of over 450 miles on a single charge.
Battery life can be negatively affected by: • Your charging habits: Avoid fully charging or depleting the battery, since keeping the charge between 50% and 80% helps preserve battery health. • Temperature: Extreme heat or cold can reduce battery lifespan. • Too much fast charging: Frequent use of fast chargers can degrade the battery faster than slower, regular charging. Electric cars often include energy-saving features, such as “idling” (turning off the car when stopped) and “regenerative braking” (charging the battery while braking), which can help prolong battery life. Learn more about an electric car’s range.

To extend your battery’s life:
• Avoid overcharging or fully depleting the battery. • Park in shaded or temperature-controlled environments to avoid too much heat or too cold an atmosphere. • Reserve fast charging for occasional use. • Avoid charging immediately after long drives and allow the battery to cool down first. • Keep calm, since aggressive driving can increase wear on the battery. • Aim to keep the charge between 50% and 80%. Some electric cars automatically stop charging once they reach capacity, while others slow charging for the last 20%, which is why public charging points often cite times for charging to 80%.

Many manufacturers offer electric car battery warranties for peace of mind. Most brands, including Nissan and Toyota, provide an eight-year (or 100,000 miles) warranty that typically covers battery degradation.
Warranty length and coverage vary by manufacturer, so make sure to ask about this when considering an electric car.

Electric car batteries typically last 10 to 20 years, so immediate replacement costs are usually not an issue. Leaving a battery flat for too long can cause it to brick (where they stop accepting charge at all), but many electric vehicles are designed to prevent this.
It's natural for a battery to lose capacity over time due to extended use, but good care can slow this process. If you suspect a battery fault, consult your warranty first.

Your car will tell you. Common signs you need a replacement are:
• Dashboard warning symbol: If an illuminated battery symbol pops up on your dashboard, there’s a fault. Get it checked as soon as you can, especially if it stays on whilst driving. • Electrical issues: The battery is responsible for all your car’s electrics, from the computer system to the phone charger. If you start noticing issues with the electrics, for example the lights dimming or a loss of electrical power, you need to get it checked.

Battery lease arrangements are increasingly rare, but you may come across one with an model, like the Renault Zoe or Nissan Leaf.
Under this scheme, you buy the car but rent the battery, paying a monthly fee ranging from £50 to £100. This lowers the car's upfront cost and offers a battery performance guarantee, including replacement if the battery's capacity falls below 60–75% of its original level, along with added perks like breakdown recovery insurance. But the monthly lease payments are continual, even when the car isn't in use, and can complicate resale, as the new buyer needs to take on the lease. Battery leases have fallen out of favour as battery longevity has grown, and manufacturers now often sell cars with batteries included. If you buy a used electric car and it comes with a battery lease, make sure you understand the costs, conditions, and liabilities involved. Manufacturers like Renault and Nissan allow buyers to "buy out" a lease, converting the battery to owned status, which is often advisable.

So, let’s talk used electric cars.
If electric vehicle batteries last 10 to 20 years, is buying a used one a gamble? Not necessarily. But you’ll need to check the battery's condition, as older ones may have reduced capacity, especially if fast-charged often or left flat. Battery replacement is expensive, so consider this before buying. Before buying, consider having the battery's health assessed during the test drive or investigate warranty options covering the battery. Older electric car batteries often lose value, and most have a warranty of five to eight years, so consider the cost of replacement. Always ask the seller about the remaining warranty and charging history. Learn more about electric battery health in our guide.

Yes. When the batteries reach the end of their life, they can be stripped for valuable materials including lithium salts and cobalt. This means we don’t have to rely on extracting raw materials out of the earth.
The battery unit itself can be repurposed for energy storage systems in homes or businesses. Some manufacturers are creating closed-loop systems where recycled batteries power their own production facilities.

While battery-electric vehicles don’t emit harmful tailpipe pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides, they do have a carbon footprint. The environmental impact primarily comes from electricity generation, with renewable sources like wind and solar being the cleanest options. Research indicates that battery-electric cars typically produce less carbon than petrol or diesel cars over their lifespan.

Are you on the lookout for your next electric car? Start with Auto Trader. With more choice available than anywhere else, you might just find the perfect electric vehicle for you.