Quick answer
Key takeaways
- Permanent loss = battery degradation; temporary loss = cold, speed and heating.
- Typical degradation is ~1-2% a year, so most packs last 10+ years.
- Cold weather can temporarily cut range by 20-40%, it comes back when it warms up.
- You control range with charging habits, speed and preconditioning.
Permanent vs temporary range loss
It helps to separate the two. Permanent loss is battery degradation, real capacity the pack won't get back. Temporary loss is everything else: a cold morning, a motorway blast, a roof box, the heater on full. Temporary loss can be large but it returns when conditions change; permanent loss is what you actually pay for when you buy a used EV.
Battery ageing: how long do EV batteries last?
Longer than most people expect. Real-world data shows typical degradation of around 1-2% a year, and manufacturers back the pack for 8 years / 100,000 miles to about 70% capacity. In practice many EV batteries are comfortably outlasting that, with plenty of cars past 150,000 miles still holding a usable majority of their range. Outright battery failure is rare, the normal story is gradual, predictable decline. Our guide on what's normal for degradation has the detail.
Cold weather and range
Cold is the biggest temporary range killer. Lithium-ion cells are less efficient when cold, and cabin heating draws real power, so a winter morning can knock 20-40% off usable range. A heat pump softens the hit, and preconditioning the car while it's still plugged in helps a lot. None of this is battery damage, the range returns when it warms up.
Speed, driving style and load
Aerodynamic drag rises sharply with speed, so motorway cruising uses far more energy per mile than town driving, the opposite of a petrol car. Hard acceleration, roof boxes, towing and underinflated tyres all add up too. Smooth driving and using regenerative braking claw a lot of it back.
What you can control
- Charge to around 80% for daily use; save 100% for long trips.
- Precondition while plugged in on cold days.
- Ease off motorway speed a few mph on long runs.
- Keep tyres correctly inflated.
- Use occasional, not constant, rapid charging.
How to check a used EV's range loss
To separate permanent degradation from a cold-weather dip, check the expected range now versus when new. The Used EV Check estimates both for the specific car from its registration and mileage, so you can see how much range it has genuinely lost, not just what the last driver saw on a frosty morning. Range data is powered by ClearWatt.
Range and battery-health figures are estimates modelled from real-world data and are shown for the specific vehicle in the Used EV Check. Range data is powered by ClearWatt. A battery-health grade is shown where a manufacturer test record exists, it is a comparative grade, not a measured state-of-health percentage.
Check a used EV before you buy
Enter a registration to see a used EV's battery health, real-world range now vs when new and remaining battery warranty, an instant report for £9.99.
Frequently asked questions
How long do EV batteries last?+
Why does my EV lose so much range in winter?+
Is range loss on a used EV permanent?+
Does fast charging reduce EV range over time?+
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WLTP range vs the range a used EV actually delivers. Why the advert figure is optimistic, how much range a second-hand EV loses with age and cold, and how to check the real-world range now.