Almost 10,000 EVs including Tesla, Audi and BMW tested for battery degradation and two models kept 97% capacity after 62,000 miles
Published on Jul 19, 2026 at 10:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Ben Thompson
Last updated on Jul 19, 2026 at 10:01 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Mason Jones
Nearly 10,000 EVs were tested for battery degradation, and out of the offerings from Tesla, Audi, and BMW, these are the two models that kept 97 percent capacity.
The study, conducted by a Swedish used EV marketplace, analyzed data from 9,954 battery health tests conducted between 2022 and 2026.
The point of the study was to see which models retained the most battery capacity after 62,000 miles.
The brands that came out on top may surprise you.
EVs are constantly being compared to each other
To paraphrase a popular expression, it really is a car-eat-car world out there.
Competition is everything, and there are ton of factors on which different vehicles are judged.
Wondering which EV is the most reliable to drive during the winter months? There’s a study that has you covered.
Then there was a study looking at which EVs’ batteries degraded the least after driving 1.25 million miles.
And if you want to look on the negative side of things, there’s this study about which EV depreciated the most over a 10 year period.
The study we’ll be looking at today comes from Carla, a Swedish used car marketplace.
Which EVs fared best when it came to battery degradation?
9,954 EV battery health tests conducted between 2022 and 2026 were compiled for this study.
The goal was to see which models retained the highest capacity after 62,000 miles.
Only two models retained the golden standard of 97 percent – a Kia e-Niro at 97.25 percent and a Hyundai Kona at 97.18 percent.
Rounding out the top three was a Kia EV6 at 95.95 percent.
As you may have noticed, the top three cars all came from South Korea.
Tesla does make appearances on the list, with four of its cars appearing.
EVs from Audi, Skoda, and Volkswagen are also well represented.
| Model | Battery Health After 62,000 Miles |
| Kia e-Niro – 64kWh | 97.25% |
| Hyundai Kona – 64kWh | 97.18% |
| Kia EV6 – 77.4kWh | 95.95% |
| Volvo XC40 Recharger – 69kWh – CATL | 94.70% |
| Polestar 2 – 78kWh – CATL | 94.35% |
| BMW i3 – 120 Ah | 94.77% |
| Polestar 2 – 78kWh – LG Chem | 93.53% |
| Tesla Model 3 – 60.5kWh – CATL – LFP | 93.34% |
| Audi e-tron 50 – 71kWh | 93.02% |
| Audi e-tron 55 – 95kWh | 92.93% |
| Skoda Enyaq iV – 77kWh | 92.88% |
| Tesla Model 3 – 78.8KWh – LG Chem | 92.83% |
| Tesla Model S | 92.80% |
| Volkswagen ID4 – 77kWh | 92.77% |
| Skoda Enyaq iV – 77kWh | 92.60% |
| Tesla Model X | 92.52% |
| Volkswagen ID4 – 77kWh | 92.27% |
| Tesla Model Y – 78.8kWh – LG Chem | 92.18% |
| Audi Q4 e-tron – 77kWh | 92.18% |
| Volkswagen ID3 – 58kWh | 91.7% |
It’s worth pointing out that the ‘last place’ slot goes to a car with 91.7 percent battery capacity.
That’s still pretty good, right?
Is battery degradation really as bad as people say?
It’s something that has undoubtedly troubled buyers who are on the fence about buying an EV.
Will the battery’s health be hit too hard by the miles?
This study shows that degradation isn’t nearly as severe as is commonly believed.
And it’s not the only study that comes to this sort of conclusion.
Another Swedish study found that eight out of 10 used electric cars would retain more than 90 percent of their battery capacity.
Keep these studies in the back of your mind next time your EV-hating friend goes off on a rant.
Ben joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025 after being published by international organizations including LADbible, The Sun, the New York Post, and the Daily Mail. He covers supercars, rare and collectible vehicles, aviation, luxury assets, and the fascinating people behind them. His reporting has explored everything from seven-figure supercars and historic Ferrari collections to unusual aircraft adventures and extraordinary automotive discoveries from around the world. Ben has also gained first-hand insight into vehicle craftsmanship and customization, including visiting specialist workshops to see bespoke vehicles up close.
