How Long Do Electric Car Batteries Last?

What is my electric vehicle’s battery warranty?

If you’ve ever purchased a car before, you may know that a vehicle’s warranty coverage is typically broken down into two components: comprehensive (“bumper-to-bumper”) coverage and powertrain coverage. With an electric vehicle, the battery is covered too.

In fact, federal regulations require that an EV’s battery pack be covered under warranty for at least eight years or 100,000 miles. You’ll find that that’s the baseline (and most common) warranty for EV battery coverage, though some brands extend coverage even longer. 

Does this mean your electric car battery will need to be replaced at eight years or 100,000 miles? No. It may have another 8 years or 100,000 miles of life left in it still! However, it does mean that if your battery dies before the warranty expires, you’ll receive a new one free of charge.

Your Warranty Coverage Shield

Why is this warranty so significant? It basically acts as a shield against uncertainty, guaranteeing you’ll have a working car battery for the first eight years or 100,000 miles of your vehicle’s lifespan (and maybe longer, depending on the manufacturer). This is far longer a guarantee than you’d get with an internal combustion vehicle.

There’s a reason for that: Batteries are among the most costly components in electric cars. They cost more than a battery for a gas-powered car would. Because you don’t need to replace them nearly as often, though, EV batteries will likely prove more economical in the long run.