Updated battery health data from Geotab shows modern electric vehicle batteries continue to perform well over time, even as fast charging becomes more common.

Geotab’s updated EV battery health study analyzed real-world data from more than 22,700 electric vehicles across 21 makes and models using several years of aggregated telematics information. The results show an average annual battery degradation rate of 2.3%, up from 1.8% in the company’s 2024 findings.

The increase reflects shifting usage patterns, including a growing reliance on high-power DC fast charging. Battery longevity remains a concern for both individual drivers and fleet operators as EV adoption expands. Geotab said understanding how batteries age under different charging and operating conditions can help fleets manage performance and make informed decisions about vehicle deployment and charging strategy.

“EV battery health remains strong, even as vehicles are charged faster and deployed more intensively,” said Charlotte Argue, senior manager of sustainable mobility at Geotab, in a Jan. 12 news release. “Our latest data shows that batteries are still lasting well beyond the replacement cycles most fleets plan for.”

Charging Behavior Is Key Factor In Battery Degradation

Geotab found that charging power had the biggest operational impact on battery health. Vehicles that relied heavily on DC fast charging above 100 kW experienced faster degradation, averaging up to 3% per year, compared with about 1.5% for vehicles that primarily used AC or lower-power charging.

Climate had a smaller independent effect, with vehicles operating in hotter regions degrading about 0.4% faster per year than those in milder climates.

Geotab also found that vehicles with a wider state-of-charge range showed no significant degradation unless they spent extended periods near full or near-empty charge levels.

Higher-use vehicles showed slightly faster degradation, increasing by about 0.8% per year compared to the lowest-use group. Geotab said this can be an acceptable tradeoff when weighed against the cost and operational advantages of keeping vehicles in service longer.

“For fleets, the focus should be balance,” Argue said. “Using the lowest charging power that still meets operational needs can make a measurable difference to long-term battery health without limiting vehicle availability.”

Telematics Data Helps Fleets Track Battery State Of Health

Battery degradation reduces the amount of energy a battery can store over time and is tracked using state of health (SOH). Batteries start at 100% SOH and gradually decline. For example, a 60 kWh battery operating at 80% SOH effectively behaves like a 48 kWh battery.

Geotab said its analysis shows most modern EV batteries remain usable well beyond typical fleet replacement timelines, although degradation can vary by model, charging habits, and usage patterns.

The company noted that telematics-based state-of-health tracking can help fleets estimate available battery capacity, monitor degradation trends, and better manage vehicles throughout their lifecycle.