| State of Health | Remaining Range |
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Understanding Battery Degradation
Every lithium-ion battery slowly loses capacity as it ages and cycles. State of health, or SoH, measures how much remains compared to when it was new. A pack at 92 percent has lost 8 percent of its usable energy, and that loss shows up directly as reduced range. Tracking it tells you how your EV is aging and whether a warranty claim might apply.
It Is Not a Straight Line
Degradation is front-loaded. Many EVs shed a few percent in the first year or two, then settle into a much slower decline that can run for hundreds of thousands of miles. That is why projecting your early loss rate in a straight line overestimates the future. The pattern is steep then shallow, not constant.
What Speeds It Up
Heat is the biggest enemy, followed by sitting at very high or very low charge, frequent DC fast charging, and routinely charging to 100 percent. Gentle habits, keeping the daily charge around 80 percent, avoiding extreme heat, and using slower AC charging when possible, meaningfully slow the decline.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find my current capacity?
Some cars display battery health directly, and third-party apps or a dealer scan can estimate it from the battery management system.
What SoH is a warranty problem?
Most EV battery warranties guarantee about 70 percent capacity for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Falling below that within the period may qualify for a repair or replacement.
Is some loss normal?
Yes. Losing a handful of percent in the first couple of years is expected and not a defect. Healthy packs then degrade very slowly.