Most battery warranties are for eight years and 160,000 kilometers, but some EVs have gone hundreds of thousands of kilometers — and are still going strong.

Integrating batteries into the floor of an electric vehicle can benefit vehicle stiffness, improve efficiency, and maximize space. One of the common myths about electric vehicles is that their batteries will need replacing — and when they do, it will cost an arm and a leg.

Everyone has had to replace rechargeable batteries in consumer electronics, so the EV myth has a popular following.

Early smartphones had batteries that would fail and need replacement or get so weak their run time was too short. So, hesitation on batteries in electric vehicles is understandable. But today’s EVs haven’t had the same issue because of two reasons: Continual battery temperature management by onboard battery management systems, and chemistry.

From the moment an EV battery is installed and charged for the first time until the day it is removed, the battery management system manipulates battery thermal conditions to ensure the longest life possible. With these systems keeping the battery in top form, degradation is minimal and gradual, and has permitted manufacturers to offer long warranties.

Most are for eight years and 160,000 kilometers (some as high as 192,000 kilometers) but some EVs have gone hundreds of thousands of kilometers and are still going strong.

Battery chemistry has been under continual improvement to increase range per kilogram of battery and to ensure longevity. Second part of the myth is the cost of replacing the battery. This is a difficult question as EVs came onto the market in force starting in 2010 with the Nissan Leaf. This vehicle’s battery was a wonder in its day and was so expensive that the maker couldn’t afford to install thermal battery management hardware.

Regardless, those early Leaf’s are almost all still on the road (with their original batteries) and continue to provide great service.

Battery manufacturing defects have required two EV makers (Hyundai and Chevy) to recall and replace batteries in three models. They were all under warranty, so the owners got new batteries.

It is difficult to know actual prices for batteries because they have not needed to be replaced on 98.5 per cent of EVs. Some highly publicized examples were horrendous, but it turned out that dealers had raised parts prices to get the owners to give up their EVs. This does nothing for the brand and demonstrates that makers and dealers are not always on the same team.

Regardless, the battery in any EV is intended to last the life of the vehicle, and at the end of that life — well, you’ll have to wait to see what happens then.