EV Battery Health & Real-World Range by Model
How the UK's most popular used EVs really perform: battery health, degradation, real-world range and known issues, model by model, with independent sources.
Different EVs age differently. Battery chemistry, cooling design and known model-specific issues all change how much range a used car really has left. These guides pull together credible, independent research on each model, so you know what is normal before you buy.
Why one model is not like another
Most EV batteries lose capacity quickly in the first year or two, then settle into a slow, gentle decline. Across a large real-world fleet the average works out at about 2.3% a year, leaving roughly 80% of capacity after eight years (Geotab, a fleet average across many models). But the average hides a wide spread, and a few things decide where a given model sits:
- Battery chemistry. Nickel-based (NMC or NCA) packs and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs age and charge differently. LFP is happy charged to 100% daily and tends to hold up well; nickel packs prefer an 80 to 90% daily ceiling.
- Cooling design. Actively liquid-cooled packs hold their temperature and age more slowly. Passively air-cooled cars, such as the early Nissan Leaf, the Renault Zoe and the VW e-Golf, run hotter under repeated rapid charging and typically degrade faster.
- Charging and climate. Heavy DC rapid charging and hot climates push degradation up; gentle home charging keeps it low.
- Known model issues. Some models carry specific histories, from recalls to charging quirks, that a listing photo can never show you.
How to use these guides
Pick your model below. Each guide gives the real-world range by version, the battery and cooling design, the typical degradation profile, any known issues or recalls, and the warranty terms, all from cited, independent sources. Read the wider range explainer, our guide to a good battery health percentage, and how batteries age for the background.
A model average tells you the ballpark. The only way to know the exact car in front of you is an independent, TÜV Certified test of that specific battery, which is how to check a used EV's battery health before you buy.
i3
Buying a used BMW i3? See real-world range by 60Ah, 94Ah and 120Ah battery, degradation rates, recalls and warranty, plus how a TÜV Certified test checks your car.
i4
Buying a used BMW i4? See real-world range by version, how the Gen5 pack ages, current recalls and warranty, plus an independent TÜV Certified battery test.
Ioniq 5
Buying a used Hyundai Ioniq 5? Real-world range by battery version, how the 800V pack ages, the ICCU recall explained and independent battery testing.
Kona Electric
Buying a used Hyundai Kona Electric? Real-world range by version, degradation, the LG battery fire recall, warranty, and how an independent SoH test proves the pack.
I-Pace
Buying a used Jaguar I-Pace? See real-world range, battery degradation, the live LG-cell fire recall and 90% charge cap, warranty terms and how to check one car.
e-Niro
Buying a used Kia e-Niro? See real-world range for the 39 and 64 kWh, battery degradation data, the liquid-cooled pack, warranty terms and why the dash reads 100%.
EV6
Used Kia EV6 battery guide: real-world range, degradation data, the ICCU recall explained, and how a TÜV Certified test checks the exact car.
4 EV
Buying a used MG4? Real-world range by version, why the LFP and NMC packs age differently, liquid cooling, the software recalls to check and warranty.
ZS EV
Buying a used MG ZS EV? Real-world range by battery size, degradation, the mk1 HV-fuse recall and warranty, plus an independent TÜV Certified battery test.
Leaf
Buying a used Nissan Leaf? Real-world range by battery size, why the air-cooled pack degrades faster, Rapidgate, the 2019-22 fast-charge issue and warranty.
2
Buying a used Polestar 2? Check real-world range by version, how the 78kWh and 82kWh packs age, recalls and warranty, plus an independent TÜV Certified battery test.
Zoe
Buying a used Renault Zoe? Check the battery: owned vs leased, air-cooled pack, real-world range, SoH by version, the 2021 fire recall and warranty terms.
Model 3
Buying a used Tesla Model 3? See how LFP and NCA packs age differently, real-world range by version, warranty terms and how an independent test proves its health.
Model S
Buying a used Tesla Model S? Real-world range by version, how the battery ages, the 2019 voltage-cap issue, BMS_u029 and warranty terms explained.
Model Y
Buying a used Tesla Model Y? See how LFP and nickel packs age, real-world range, warranty terms and how an independent TÜV Certified test proves its health.
e-Golf
Buying a used VW e-Golf? What its 24 kWh and 35 kWh batteries, passive air cooling, range and degradation mean, and how to verify battery health before you buy.
ID.3
Buying a used VW ID.3? See real-world range by battery size, degradation evidence, the 2026 fire-risk recall and how a TÜV Certified test proves this car's health.
ID.4
Buying a used VW ID.4? Real-world range by battery size, degradation evidence, the 2026 battery-module recalls scoped for the UK, and how to check this car.