Is It True That The Battery Quality Of The Used Electric Car Is Bad? Check The Study Results

Filling in the Kia electric car. (Photo: Kia)

JAKARTA A recent study from a used Swedish car broker, Kvdbil, revealed that electric vehicle (EV) batteries have better durability than previously thought. This research provides a more accurate picture of the rate of battery degradation after long-term use.

In an analysis of 1,366 electric vehicles, consisting of 723 pure electric cars and 643 plug-in hybrid Kvdbil found that eight out of ten units still retain 90 percent or more of the battery's initial capacity.

This result shows that the decline in EV battery performance is not as fast as many predicted so far, as reported by TechRadar, Monday, November 3. Kvdbil test leader Martin Reinholdsson explained that there are a number of factors that affect the condition of electric vehicle batteries.

"Usia, climate, driving style, and charging habits play a major role in the level of battery efficacy," he said. He emphasized that battery life is greatly influenced by the way vehicles are used and treated on a daily basis.

In the research results, the Kia brand is recorded to have the best performance in terms of battery health. Models such as Kia EV6 and Kia e-Niro show the highest level of battery health (SoH). While in the plug-in hybrid category, Kia Sportage PHEV and Kia Optima PHEV also recorded consistent results.

In addition, an analysis of more than 8,000 battery health certificates from leasing companies in the UK showed an average of 93 percent of SoH. Even for vehicles with a distance of up to 200,000 kilometers, the battery capacity still stands close to 90 percent.

Researchers recommend some habits to maintain EV battery life, including avoiding excessive use of fast charging, not allowing battery capacity to drop below 10 percent, and limit charging to about 80 percent if vehicles are not used for long trips every day.

Overall, the results of this study provide a positive picture of the battery life of electric vehicles. With the right use and maintenance, EV batteries can still function optimally even though they have been used in the long term. However, climate differences and use patterns in various countries remain an important factor that affects similar results in other regions.