Geotab for electric vehicles: the battery degradation tool

Geotab has developed a solution aimed at evaluating battery degradation on electric vehicles. It all start from the analysis of aggregated data from 6,300 vehicles reveals that electric vehicles batteries may outlast usable life of vehicle.

Announced at Geotab Connect 2020, the easy-to-use tool leverages data processed from EVs representing 64 makes, models and years to help showcase how real-world conditions influence battery health. The findings suggest that if degradation rates remain constant, most batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle and go on to provide energy storage for many more years.

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Battery health is a priority

«Considering we are in the early stages of EV adoption, the health of the battery has been a top concern for fleet owners and individuals», said Matt Stevens, VP Electric Vehicles at Geotab. «From a life-cycle perspective, battery health is key since it is the most expensive component in an EV and impacts vehicle range. With Geotab’s free EV Battery Degradation Tool, fleet operators, early EV adopters and those considering the purchase of an EV will have the information they need to make more informed driving, maintenance and buying decisions moving forward».

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A brief overview of Geotab’s findings

Electric vehicle battery health has a direct impact not only on maximum usable range over time but also the vehicle’s residual value. Geotab’s EV Battery Degradation Tool examines real-world performance of EVs over time and provides a detailed comparison across different makes and models to help facilitate informed purchasing decisions.

Here’s a brief overview of Geotab’s findings. If current degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle. The average decline in energy storage is 2.3 percent per year. For a 150-mile EV, owners are likely to lose 17 miles of accessible range after five years.

Batteries with good thermal management show slower degradation. Battery-powered vehicles with bigger state-of-charge buffers result in a longer lasting battery pack. Higher vehicle use does not necessarily equal higher battery degradation.