A brand new examine suggests EVs aren’t staying within the U.S. car fleet so long as gasoline automobiles and vans, which might be an issue for decreasing real-world fleet emissions.

The common age of light-duty automobiles within the U.S. has hit a file excessive 12.5 years, in keeping with S&P International Mobility, however the common age of EVs within the fleet is simply 3.6 years, down from 3.7 years in 2022. That is a results of the more moderen ramp-up of EV gross sales (12.5 years in the past the Tesla Mannequin S wasn’t even on sale), however nonetheless creates obstacles to affordability by holding costs of used EVs comparatively excessive.

Extra worrisome maybe is how the examine discovered that whereas new EV registrations have grown considerably, EVs are additionally leaving the fleet at a quicker fee than gasoline automobiles.

2015 Chevrolet Spark EV

S&P International Mobility estimates that new EV registrations reached practically 758,000 items in 2022—a 58% achieve 12 months over 12 months. Nonetheless, of the practically 2.3 million EVs registered within the U.S. between 2013 and 2022, about 6.6% have left the fleet, whereas about 5.2% of different car sorts have left the fleet over the identical timeframe, the examine discovered.

The examine does not imply why EVs are leaving the fleet at a quicker fee, however it doubtless is not as a result of battery degradation or sturdiness. A latest examine by Recurrent, which sells battery well being experiences for used EVs, discovered that just one.5% of 15,000 EVs wanted pack replacements as a result of degradation. So battery degradation is not more likely to brick your EV.

Insurance coverage might nicely be the problem, or a part of it, as insurers are far too desperate to utterly write off EVs slightly than repair them—particularly when the battery pack is concerned, or when there’s even mild flood harm.

2014 Nissan Leaf

Producers have additionally provided extra buybacks in some conditions concerning EVs—from Toyota bZ4X wheels falling off, to these sad to attend for a brand new Chevrolet Bolt EV battery throughout a drawn-out recall over fireplace considerations. Some EVs could have additionally been dropped at different markets, however it’s unclear if that is something past a negligible issue. 

So whereas degradation limits on EV batteries would possibly assist, right-to-repair efforts that enable packs and modules to be extra simply repaired extra doubtless will maintain extra EVs on the highway. It is unclear if automakers will assist that, nonetheless, because it imply loosening their grip on diagnostic software program. Tesla previously has been notably robust on impartial mechanics seeking to restore or tune its automobiles.