Kia and Hyundai Lead in Battery Health Retention
A study analyzing nearly 10,000 electric vehicle tests identifies which models best maintain battery capacity over time.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Data from 9,954 electric vehicle battery tests conducted between 2022 and 2026 shows that Kia and Hyundai models lead the industry in long-term capacity retention. Researchers at the marketplace Carla utilized AVILOO diagnostic technology to track battery health across various models after 62,000 miles of driving.
Why it matters
Understanding how battery health degrades over time is a critical factor for long-term ownership and the secondary market value of electric vehicles. This study provides consumers with comparative metrics to evaluate the durability of different battery systems across major automotive brands.
The Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona led the findings with 97.25% and 97.18% battery health retention, respectively, while the Volkswagen ID.3 showed the lowest retention among the studied group at 91.79%.
The players
Carla
This organization is a marketplace that conducted the retrospective analysis on electric vehicle battery longevity.
AVILOO
This company develops the battery diagnostic technology used to measure the state of health in electric vehicle power cells.
Kia
This South Korean automaker manufactures several of the top-performing models in the battery health study.
Hyundai
This South Korean manufacturer saw its models rank among the best for maintaining battery capacity over 62,000 miles.
The details
Carla performed the analysis using specialized diagnostic tools to determine the precise health percentage of each vehicle after the specified mileage interval. The results highlight a performance gap between the top-performing South Korean models and other international manufacturers including Volvo, Polestar, BMW, and Tesla.
Timeline
The analysis of battery tests covers the period from 2022 to 2026.
Roadmap
This study underscores a growing focus on long-term battery durability as the automotive industry shifts toward a mature secondary electric vehicle market. It highlights how varying battery management systems differentiate manufacturer reliability in the eyes of long-term owners and used-car buyers.
Prospective buyers can use these findings to better estimate the long-term maintenance costs and residual value of specific electric vehicle models. Drivers should consider that choosing a vehicle with higher battery retention may result in better performance and driving range as the vehicle ages.
The takeaway
Vehicle longevity remains a key factor in the transition to electric mobility for consumers concerned about long-term ownership costs. Buyers should research specific battery health benchmarks to ensure their investment remains efficient throughout the expected life of the car.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Electric Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BGR.
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Do you feel confident in the long-term reliability of a used electric vehicle battery?
