Used electric vehicle market trends and battery durability

The second-hand electric vehicle (EV) market offers increasingly affordable options, though battery health remains a primary concern for buyers. Older models like the Mitsubishi i-MiEV provide low-cost entry points into electric mobility, featuring compact dimensions and a 16 kWh battery. However, these older models face limitations such as a practical range often below the NEDC-rated 150 kilometers and potential technical issues, including a recall regarding vacuum pump failures in the brake booster.

Recent studies on battery durability highlight several models that maintain high capacity after 150,000 kilometers. The Mercedes-Benz EQA leads with 94 percent battery health, followed closely by the Hyundai IONIQ 5 at 93.8 percent and the BMW i4 at 93.6 percent. Other models maintaining over 90 percent capacity include the Polestar 2, VW ID.3, Audi Q8 e-tron, Hyundai Kona, and Volvo XC40 Recharge.

Data suggests that vehicles with smaller batteries may experience less degradation because they undergo fewer charge cycles compared to larger batteries. While battery capacity typically sees its most significant drop during the first 150,000 kilometers, the rate of decline tends to stabilize and become more gradual over time.