What does Cycle Life mean?

Explanation

Cycle life measures how many times you can charge and discharge a battery before it degrades to a defined threshold, usually 70% or 80% of original capacity. One cycle equals using 100% of the battery's capacity, but it does not have to happen all at once. Using 50% today and 50% tomorrow equals one cycle.

Modern EV batteries are designed for impressive cycle life. LFP batteries typically handle 2,000 to 5,000 cycles, while NMC batteries handle 1,000 to 2,000 cycles. For a car with 300 km of range, 2,000 cycles represents 600,000 km of driving. That is far more than most cars will ever travel.

Cycle life depends heavily on conditions. Charging at moderate speeds, keeping the battery at moderate temperatures, and using shallow depth of discharge all extend cycle life. Frequent DC fast charging in extreme heat with deep discharges shortens it. But even under less-than-ideal conditions, most EV batteries will outlast the rest of the car.

For current specifications, see National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Where you'll see this

• In vehicle specifications

Common confusion

People worry their EV battery will die after 5-8 years like a phone battery. EV batteries are engineered very differently, with thermal management and BMS protection. Most will still have 80%+ capacity after 10 years of normal use.

Example

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