The cars with the most durable batteries revealed!

An extensive test conducted by Swedish research firm Kvdbil has shed light on the battery health of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the used market. Over 1,300 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) were examined. The results of the study clearly show that Kia and Tesla are leading the pack in maintaining their battery capacity over time.

Cars with the Most Durable Batteries

The findings paint a positive picture of the overall health of used electric vehicles. Eight out of every 10 vehicles tested retained at least 90 percent of their original battery capacity. Kvdbil test manager Martin Reinholdsson expressed his surprise at how many vehicles performed well.

In the model-by-model ranking, the Kia EV6 came in first, the Kia e-Niro second, and the Tesla Model Y third. There are 12,148 Kia EV6s and 48,488 Tesla Model Ys registered in Sweden. This means the Model Y was evaluated with a larger sample size in the test.

Advanced battery management systems and engineering quality are among the factors behind battery performance. However, the test revealed that factors such as charging habits, driving style, and the vehicle’s age also play a role in maintaining battery capacity.

The top ten models with the best battery performance include the Kia EV6, Kia e-Niro, and Tesla Model Y, as well as the Opel Mokka-e, Mazda MX-30, Audi Q4 e-tron, Fiat 500e, Volvo XC40 Recharge, Citroën e-C4, and Volkswagen ID.4.

The test examined 723 electric vehicles and 643 plug-in hybrids. Reinholdsson stated that these results disprove the myth that electric vehicles don’t last long in used cars. Looking at the brand rankings, Kia ranked first, Audi second, Opel third, Tesla fourth, and Mercedes fifth.

Among plug-in hybrids, the Kia Sportage tops the list as the model with the best battery performance. Other plug-in hybrid models also include the Kia Optima, Volvo XC60, Kia Ceed, and Volvo V60.

Models with the Best Battery Performance: