New data from telematics giant Geotab Inc. offers reassuring news for Canada's growing electric vehicle market: modern EV batteries are demonstrating strong long-term health, even as drivers and fleets increasingly turn to high-power fast charging.
Charging Habits Emerge as Key Factor in Battery Longevity
In an updated analysis released in January 2026, Geotab examined real-world battery data from more than 22,700 electric vehicles across 21 different makes and models. The study found the average annual battery degradation rate sits at 2.3% per year. This marks a slight increase from the 1.8% rate reported in the company's 2024 findings, a shift researchers attribute to evolving usage patterns.
The most significant driver of faster degradation is the growing reliance on high-power DC fast charging. The data shows a clear split: vehicles that primarily use AC or lower-power charging degrade at an average rate of about 1.5% annually. In contrast, vehicles that frequently use DC fast chargers with power outputs above 100 kW experience an average degradation rate of up to 3.0% per year—roughly double.
Climate and Usage Play Smaller, Manageable Roles
While charging power is now the dominant operational factor, other conditions also influence battery health. Geotab's research indicates that EVs operating in consistently hot climates degrade approximately 0.4% faster per year than those in mild conditions. However, this effect is notably smaller than the impact of charging behavior.
The analysis also looked at utilization. It found that increased daily use leads to slightly higher degradation, but the impact is modest. Crucially, this effect is often outweighed by the gains in fleet productivity and return on investment. The study further clarified that battery health is only significantly stressed when vehicles spend more than 80% of their time at very high or very low states of charge.
Implications for Canadian Fleets and Drivers
For commercial and public-sector fleets accelerating their EV adoption, these findings are critical for long-term planning. "EV battery health remains strong, even as vehicles are charged faster and deployed more intensively," said Charlotte Argue, Senior Manager of Sustainable Mobility at Geotab. "Our latest data shows that batteries are still lasting well beyond the replacement cycles most fleets plan for."
The key takeaway for operators is the newfound importance of charging strategy. The data suggests that strict charging rules may be less critical than once believed, but managing how often a vehicle uses ultra-high-power fast chargers can be a powerful tool for preserving battery life and asset value over time. This allows fleet managers to make informed decisions balancing operational needs with long-term battery preservation.
The study, drawing on several years of aggregated telematics data, provides one of the most comprehensive real-world pictures of EV battery aging. It underscores that while modern battery technology is resilient, user behavior—particularly charging choices—plays a defining role in the total lifespan of an electric vehicle's most critical and expensive component.
