How long will an electric car’s battery last?
It’s a key question for buyers of new EVs and an even more pressing issue when buying used: will the battery need replacing before the car?
28 March 2021 • 7:31pm
Lithium-ion battery packs await shipping from a factory in China. Despite manufacturer warranties, few people have a realistic idea of their service life
Credit: STR / AFP
Ask any electric car maker how long the main drive battery will last and the loudest sound you’ll hear is the shuffling of feet. No one wants to answer the question, yet it’s crucial data for consumers, for the EV market as a whole, for the Government’s electrification strategy and for the environment.
The world’s No. 2 carmaker, which is in the midst of a major shift towards battery-powered cars, said on Monday it wants to have six battery cell factories operating in Europe by 2030.
Volkswagen plans to build half a dozen battery cell plants in Europe and expand infrastructure for charging electric vehicles globally, accelerating efforts to overtake Tesla and speed up mass adoption of battery-powered cars.