ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES: ARVAL CONFIRMS LONGEVITY BEYOND EXPECTATIONS

• Arval publishes a new analysis based on 24,000 State of Health (SoH) certificates for electric vehicle batteries.
• The results, drawn from a unique sample in Europe, confirm a longevity far superior to market perceptions and reassure buyers of used electric vehicles.
• With more than 30,000 certificates issued since the launch of its system, Arval strengthens its role as a pioneer and trusted third party in the electric used-car market.

Arval, which has already issued more than 30,000 State of Health (SoH) certificates for electric vehicle batteries before resale, publishes a new update of its analysis of the health of used electric vehicle batteries.

This edition is based on an extended corpus of 24,000 certificates—three times more data than in the study released early 2025—allowing the consolidation and refinement of the initial insights related to battery performance and durability.

These new results confirm, reinforce, and refine the initial findings: batteries retain an excellent performance level over time, far beyond market perceptions and buyers’ concerns.

Key data: what the analysis reveals

• At 70,000 km, the battery displays 93% remaining capacity on average
• At 160,000 km or after 6 years of use, SoH remains above 90%
• New‑generation vehicles show an SoH 2 to 3 points higher than older models
• Degradation is slow and progressive: around 1% every 25,000 km after a slight initial decrease

A longevity widely underestimated by the market

Contrary to persistent concerns about battery ageing, the data analysed across 11 European countries demonstrates that actual degradation is low, predictable, and far below common misconceptions. These insights, now consolidated thanks to an unprecedented volume of certificates, shed light on a market still dominated by perceptions rather than facts.

“This update fully confirms the insights shared last year: batteries maintain a high level of performance over time, beyond market perceptions. This is very good news for used car buyers, who can be confident in the durability and reliability of electric vehicle batteries over the long run. By providing consolidated and comparable data, we help remove barriers to buying used electric vehicles and accelerate the development of a more transparent and reliable market.” Pascal Seeger, Global Remarketing Director at Arval

Observed generational trend in battery performance

New‑generation electric vehicles, benefiting from improvements in design, cooling, and energy‑management systems, tend to show slightly better performance over time. These advancements contribute to the observed durability and may help reinforce confidence in the electric used‑car market in the coming years.

A regulatory framework that strengthens transparency

Future European regulations (Euro 7 and battery regulation) will introduce a standardized display of the state of health, which will become SOCE – State of Certified Energy.

By 2027, battery health will be visible directly on the dashboard of new models, and each battery will have a Battery Passport tracing its history and certified capacity.

These advances will support a used market that is more structured, more readable, and more reliable for both individuals and businesses.

Arval, a pioneer in battery certification

The first leasing company to offer a battery State of Health certificate when reselling an electric vehicle, Arval has partnered with two independent organizations: Moba and Aviloo, certified by the Car Remarketing Association Europe (CARA). The goal is clear: to provide a reliable, standardized, and independent assessment to both the buyer and the seller.

Methodology

The analysis is based on 24,000 certificates carried out in 11 countries, covering a mix of BEVs (66%) and PHEVs (33%).

The evaluated vehicles come from around thirty brands and were marketed by Arval between March 2023 and September 2025.