50 EV battery health checks in: what The NRMA and EV owners are learning
At a glance
- NRMA has completed 50 EV battery health checks for Members.
- Owners are using the checks to understand battery condition as warranty periods age.
- One customer used the results to support a battery refurbishment request.
NRMA has now completed 50 EV battery health checks for Members, giving electric car owners a clearer picture of how their batteries are holding up on Australian roads. The first 50 tests covered key brands such as Tesla, BYD, MG, Kia, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz, with the oldest car tested being a 2016 Tesla Model S with 218,000km on the clock.
Most cars fell in the normal range, but 15, manufactured between 2017 and 2023, had batteries with below the average range for their vehicle age, while five were above average.
For some owners, the check is driven by curiosity. They want to know how their car’s traction battery is ageing, much like checking tyre wear, service history or real-world range before a long road trip.
For others, the timing is more pointed. Early mainstream EVs in Australia are now edging closer to the end of their original battery warranty periods, making battery health a bigger part of the ownership equation.
NRMA’s EV battery health checks give Members a snapshot of a vehicle’s state of health. The test measures how much usable battery capacity remains compared with when the car was new. This helps owners understand whether their EV battery is tracking as expected, whether further investigation may be needed, or how the car may stack up when it comes time to sell.
What does an EV battery health check tell you?
An EV battery health check gives owners a report on the battery’s State of Health, often called SoH. It compares the battery’s current usable capacity with its original capacity, and is expressed as a percentage. This can help owners understand battery degradation, and if they might need to access their manufacturer’s battery warranty – this is rare but it does occasionally happen. It can also help assess a used EV’s value, rather than relying only on dashboard range estimates.
One customer used the results of a NRMA battery health report to help support a request for battery refurbishment. That gives the service a more concrete member benefit, because it shows how a report can be used when an owner needs evidence.
It does not mean every low result will lead to an EV battery replacement, repair or warranty claim. Battery warranties have terms, thresholds and conditions that vary by car maker. But an independent report can help Members start the conversation with more than a hunch.
— Aviloo, The NRMA's battery health check partner
Are EV batteries degrading faster in Australia?
Early Australian test results appear encouraging, but the local sample size is still building. The 50 checks completed so far give the NRMA a useful starting point, rather than a full picture of battery ageing across the national EV fleet.
Globally, real-world EV battery degradation is generally performing better than many early industry predictions suggested, particularly in newer vehicles with improved thermal management systems.
Aviloo, The NRMA’s battery health check partner, says: “Our data increasingly shows that real-world EV battery degradation is generally performing better than many of the early industry predictions from several years ago.”
That is a useful signal for owners, but there is nuance. Australian vehicles have often been compared with broader overseas data, including cars from cooler European markets. That is not always a clean apples-for-apples comparison.
Hotter climates, long-distance driving and frequent DC fast charging can all influence battery ageing. In Australia, those conditions can vary widely between city commuters, regional drivers and high-kilometre fleet vehicles.
Should you get an EV battery test before buying a used electric car?
A battery test can be useful before buying a used EV, especially if the car is older, has high kilometres, or is close to the end of its battery warranty. It gives buyers a clearer view of battery condition before committing to the vehicle.
The test will not tell a buyer everything about a car. It should sit alongside the usual checks, including service records, tyre wear, charging cables, software updates and any accident or repair history.
But for EVs, the battery is central to value. A transparent State of Health report can help reduce guesswork.
What are the takeaways for EV owners?
The main value of NRMA’s EV battery checks is not in making sweeping claims about every EV battery in Australia. The value is in giving Members a clearer evidence point on their own car.
For an owner nearing the end of a warranty, that may help decide whether to raise a concern with the car maker. For a used EV buyer, it may help sort a sound car from one that needs more questions asked. For a curious owner, it may simply confirm that the battery is ageing as expected.
As EVs become a bigger part of the national car parc, battery health reports are likely to become a more familiar part of buying, selling and owning an electric car.
