- A long-term endurance EV battery test carried out by German automobile association ADAC on a Volkswagen ID.3 has once again proven the long-term health of batteries in modern electric cars.
- Finishing a road test of over 160,000 kilometres (99,000 miles), the 77kWh unit in the ID.3 Pro S tested still had a net capacity of 91%, barely putting a dent in its original claimed range.
- As a general rule, Volkswagen guarantees that an ID.3 battery will have at least 70% of its original capacity after 160,000 kilometres of driving, with this test car staying well within those limits.
Volkswagen and ADAC add to the ever-stronger evidence of high battery longevity
The ADAC test marks the first battery endurance test on a Volkswagen ID. vehicle, and the results make for promising reading – both for those buying new and those looking for a more affordable used electric car. The 160,000-plus kilometres covered by the ADAC testers weren’t easy on the battery either, with rapid chargers used for over 40% of the charging sessions during the long-distance stint. Also going against common recommendations for maximising battery longevity, the vehicle was often charged to the 100% mark, sometimes leaving it plugged in for days at a time.
The data from ADAC’s testing adds to a growing portfolio of evidence that shows EV batteries remain reliable in the much longer-term, helping add confidence to the used EV market. Recent research from DEKRA found that a group of high-mileage Jaguar I-PACEs, with odometers reading between 112,000 and 162,000 miles, all came back with battery state of health ratings between 95 and 97%. Similarly, Tesla’s 2023 sustainability report found that after 200,000 miles of operation, the average Tesla Model 3 or Y had a remaining battery capacity of 85%.
The figures mark yet more positive EV news to come out from ADAC, renowned for its stringent and rigorous testing. Earlier this year, it also compiled its roadside breakdown data to show that EVs are more reliable than their ICE counterparts – and if there is a battery issue with an EV, it almost always results from the much more affordable and fast-to-replace 12-volt battery.
Martin Sander, Member of the Volkswagen Board of Management, commented:
“The result shows the impressive quality of our ID. models even after covering many kilometres. A high battery capacity of over 90 per cent after 160,000 kilometres confirms that our ID. models are also very attractive as used cars and continue to meet the requirements of our customers.
