EV Batteries Defy Doubt and Rewrite Fleet Math

New fleet data shows EV batteries losing less power than feared, pushing operators toward smarter charging strategies

13 Feb 2026

Commercial electric vehicle fleets are showing lower-than-expected battery degradation, according to new data that could alter assumptions about replacement cycles and charging strategy.

In January 2026, telematics provider Geotab released an analysis of more than 22,700 electric vehicles connected to its platform, using records collected through 2025. The company found average battery capacity loss of about 2.3 per cent per year under real-world fleet conditions.

The study reflects vehicles operating within Geotab’s network rather than the entire global EV market. Even so, it offers one of the most detailed large-scale snapshots of battery performance in commercial use, where vehicles often face heavier duty cycles than private cars.

For fleet operators, an annual loss of 2.3 per cent suggests vehicles can remain in service well beyond traditional depreciation schedules. That supports stronger total cost of ownership calculations and may reduce concerns about residual values in secondary markets.

The data also points to charging behaviour as a key variable. Vehicles that relied heavily on high-power direct current (DC) fast charging showed degradation closer to 3 per cent per year. Those that more frequently used lower-power charging recorded annual loss of about 1.5 per cent.

Over several years, that gap can translate into material differences in maintenance planning, uptime and resale value. As a result, fleet managers are placing greater emphasis on managing charging intensity rather than simply expanding access to infrastructure.

Power management in this context extends beyond overnight charging. It involves controlling charging speeds, limiting unnecessary fast-charging sessions and aligning energy delivery with operational schedules. For large fleets, charging strategy is increasingly treated as an asset management decision.

Geography also plays a role. Vehicles operating in hotter climates experienced slightly higher degradation rates, underscoring the importance of thermal management as fleets expand into warmer regions.

The findings arrive as corporate and public-sector electrification programmes accelerate. Charging providers, vehicle manufacturers and telematics companies are forming closer partnerships to integrate battery health data into daily operations.

If current trends hold, battery durability may prove less of a constraint than once feared. Attention is likely to shift from deployment targets to optimising energy use, with long-term fleet economics shaped as much by charging discipline as by vehicle design.