The Slovak Electromobility Association (SEVA) has long been speaking out against the myths spread about electromobility. One of the most common prejudices is the fear of rapid battery degradation. In response, SEVA has not only set up an expert working group on batteries and the automotive industry, but has also prepared a comprehensive research that summarises the results of independent testing and data from the real-life operation of thousands of electric vehicles in Slovakia and around the world. The analyses clearly confirm that modern batteries in electric vehicles are not only extremely reliable, but also surprisingly durable – even after tens of thousands of kilometres, they retain high capacity and degrade more slowly than laboratory tests predicted.
The SEVA review is based on up-to-date and extensive data from renowned companies and institutions such as Arval, DEKRA, ADAC, Geotab, AAA AUTO and P3 Automotive and dispels widespread myths about battery degradation. With this document, SEVA reaffirms its role as an expert voice in the Slovak public debate, bringing data, facts and expert arguments to the debate. As the association’s director Patrik Križanský explains, there are a huge number of myths about EV batteries, but the reality is different: “We believe that if we want to discuss electromobility in a factual way, we need to bring numbers and evidence into the debate. And they are clear: even after 200 thousand kilometres, batteries are in most cases more than 90% of their capacity and certainly do not need to be replaced in the same way as batteries in consumer electronics.”
In its research, SEVA summarised findings from data on thousands of vehicles in real-life operation. According to Arval’s analysis, up to 98% of EVs have a remaining capacity of over 80% after years of driving and hundreds of thousands of kilometres. The ADAC test showed that even a vehicle that was charged unsparingly and always at 100% retained 93% of its capacity after 100,000 km. In 25,000 battery tests, DEKRA found that even after 260,000 km, the battery can still reach 95% capacity. Analyses by AURES Holdings (operated by AAA Auto and Mototechna) showed that only 1.5% of vehicles had remaining battery capacity below 80%. Meanwhile, the company tested more than 2,000 EVs using Aviloo certified tests.
Real-world conditions are more indicative of batteries than lab tests
On 11 April 2025, the Ministry of Economy announced two new calls from the Recovery and Resilience Plan to support the construction of publicly accessible charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The first call is addressed to local government entities and organisations established by them, and the second is aimed at legal entities and natural persons – entrepreneurs. The aim of both calls is to support the construction of new public charging stations in different locations across Slovakia so that the network is accessible also outside main roads and major cities.
Operational experience shows that recuperation, smooth driving and optimal charging slow down degradation. Interestingly, real-world use conditions, where the battery faces normal operation, are less demanding on it than artificial testing with regular cycles in laboratory conditions. The biggest enemy of batteries are extreme temperatures and frequent charging to 100% on fast chargers. SEVA has therefore also prepared a summary of recommendations for the careful handling of EV batteries in the document.
The conclusions of the SEVA study in a nutshell:
- 98 % of EVs still have a battery capacity above 80 % after years of operation
- The battery normally survives more than 15 years
- Average annual degradation is only 2.3%
- Battery recuperation does not damage the battery, quite the opposite
- It’s the treatment that makes the difference, not the age or the number of miles
The document is available to the public at www.seva.sk.