Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the average lifespan of electric vehicle batteries and the implications this may have for the second hand market for electric vehicles.

The latest evidence on electric vehicle (EV) battery lifespans shows that average degradation is much slower than originally expected, with different studies suggesting the average battery retains between 81.6 and 85% of its original capacity after eight years. Battery replacements remain rare and do not require the full vehicle to be scrapped. Old batteries must be recycled.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate regulations require manufacturers to provide a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles on EV batteries. During the warranty period, if battery capacity drops below 70% for cars or 65% for vans, the manufacturer must provide a replacement battery. Additionally, eligibility for the Government’s Electric Car Grant requires manufacturers to offer customers a 2-year extension on the warranty to 10 years, ensuring vehicles and their batteries have long useable lives. The Government expects a significant positive downstream effect in the used EV market.

The Government is exploring options to adopt battery health regulations which would provide consumers with clearer information on an EV’s remaining battery capacity. These measures would further strengthen consumer confidence in second-hand EV purchases.