A new analysis shows that EV owners more often face failures of electrical components, central locking systems, and suspension parts than traction battery problems.
The traction battery is generally considered the most expensive component of an EV. But can its failure really be considered a common problem? A Warrantywise study based on warranty claims in the U.K. shows that owners of “green” models encounter other problems much more often, and most of them have nothing to do with the powertrain. Still, some repairs can be quite expensive.
Electrical equipment failures, such as sensor problems, as well as central locking system failures, topped the list of issues. Repairs averaged £810-900 ($1,085-$1,205), although the cost could be several times higher in some cases. A failed 12-volt battery was also among the common problems, which is actually typical of EVs.
Suspension repairs, particularly involving control arms, are also relatively common and expensive. “The average repair cost exceeded £1,200 ($1,600), while the largest individual claim exceeded £4,100 ($5,490). This is a reminder that even without an engine or transmission, an EV still has many conventional components that wear out over time, and the added weight means the suspension in an EV is subjected to even greater loads,” Carscoops notes.
The traction battery did not make the top five most common problems. This does not mean batteries never fail or require repairs, but at least during the warranty period, they are clearly not the component causing owners the most trouble. The onboard charger, however, was among the problematic components, with the average repair costing £2,160 ($2,890).
“There is no single service life, but 12-15 years is a reasonable lifespan for modern EV batteries in a moderate climate. In more extreme climates, that estimate drops to about 8-12 years,” Motor1 writes, citing the U.S. Department of Energy.
Of course, this does not mean a battery will suddenly fail or lose all of its capacity. The publication points to research by Geotab, which analyzed battery data from more than 22,700 EVs across 21 models and determined an average degradation rate of about 2.3% per year. “At that rate, the average battery will retain about 81.6% of its original capacity after eight years,” Motor1 writes.
Here is another study. After analyzing more than 30,000 EVs, Recurrent found that complete battery replacement remains rare, especially among newer vehicles. “Excluding major recalls, the data shows battery replacement rates of about 8.5% for first-generation EVs, 2% for second-generation models, and just 0.3% for EVs from the 2022 model year and later,” the study concludes.
Of course, a decade has not yet passed since these vehicles were introduced, as it has with the first-generation Nissan Leaf. But the batteries themselves, their thermal-management systems, and the software have also become more advanced.
The publication writes that Geotab’s latest study confirmed that battery degradation rates depend on temperature, which is affected in part by charging power. “Vehicles that frequently use DC fast chargers with power above 100 kW show battery capacity declining by about 3% per year. For vehicles that primarily use lower-power charging, the average rate is about 1.5%. In hot climates, annual degradation increased by about 0.4% compared with moderate climates.”
It is also noted that while modern battery-management systems protect batteries from reaching true extremes of 0% and 100%, regularly leaving certain types of batteries at or near 100% for extended periods can accelerate wear.