Why this EV battery story matters to your business
If you run a Malaysian SME, an electric vehicle is not merely a technology purchase. It can become a delivery vehicle, sales car, service van, executive vehicle or mobile business tool. The question is no longer only whether an EV can travel far on a charge. You also need to know how well its battery is likely to perform after years of daily use.
A new independent study offers useful evidence. Austrian battery diagnostics company AVILOO analysed more than 500,000 battery tests across 20 popular EV models, covering vehicles used up to 150,000 kilometres. The study found that several EV batteries retained more than 93% of their original usable capacity at that mileage. Source: Electrek, citing AVILOO Certified EV Battery Report.
For you, this changes the way you should assess a used EV. Instead of judging only by age, odometer reading or brand reputation, battery health should be treated as a measurable business asset. A vehicle with a strong battery can remain useful for longer, support predictable daily routes and preserve operational value.
What Happened
AVILOO’s study ranked 20 EV models by median state of health, or SoH, at 50,000, 100,000 and 150,000 kilometres. SoH represents the share of the battery’s original usable capacity that remains. A battery showing 94% SoH should, in broad terms, retain about 94% of its original range under comparable conditions. Source: Electrek, summarising AVILOO data.
At 150,000 kilometres, the Mercedes-Benz EQA recorded a median SoH of 94%, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5 at 93.8% and BMW i4 at 93.6%. The Hyundai Kona EV and Volvo XC40 Recharge completed the top five, with both exceeding 92.7% median SoH. The IONIQ 5 led at 50,000 kilometres with 97.1% SoH. Source: AVILOO Certified EV Battery Report data reported by Electrek.
The lower part of the ranking also provides a practical lesson. The Nissan Leaf ZE1 recorded 86.7% at 150,000 kilometres, while the MINI Cooper SE reached 87.1% and the Renault Zoe 87.3%. The study linked weaker results partly to smaller batteries, which need more charging cycles to cover the same distance. Source: Electrek, citing AVILOO study findings.
| EV model | Median SoH at 50,000 km | Median SoH at 150,000 km |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz EQA | 96.6% | 94.0% |
| Hyundai IONIQ 5 | 97.1% | 93.8% |
| BMW i4 | 95.6% | 93.6% |
| Hyundai Kona EV | 96.3% | 93.0% |
| Volvo XC40 Recharge | 95.2% | 92.8% |
| Tesla Model Y | 94.4% | 90.3% |
| Tesla Model 3 | 93.8% | 88.9% |
| Nissan Leaf ZE1 | 91.2% | 86.7% |
Source for all figures in the table: AVILOO Certified EV Battery Report, as reported by Electrek.
The key business lesson is simple: an EV model average is useful for screening, but the actual battery in the vehicle you are buying matters more.
Why This Matters for Malaysian SMEs
Malaysian SMEs often operate under tight schedules. A catering company may make several delivery runs between Petaling Jaya, Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur. An electrical contractor may carry staff and equipment across Selangor. A wholesaler may use a vehicle for repeated visits to retailers. In each case, battery condition affects whether the vehicle can complete the day’s work without an unplanned charging stop.
The study found that the difference between the best and worst individual examples of the same model could reach 13.5 percentage points. That means two used IONIQ 5 units, for example, may offer noticeably different real-world range even though they share the same model name and similar mileage. Source: Electrek, citing AVILOO’s individual-vehicle variation.
This is particularly relevant if you are buying an EV for field staff. A dashboard battery percentage is not enough to determine long-term health because manufacturers calculate and display battery information differently. An independent diagnostic report can help you compare vehicles more fairly before committing to one for business use. Source: Electrek, describing AVILOO’s independent diagnostic approach.
You should also match battery size to the job. A compact EV may be suitable for short urban sales visits, while a larger-battery model may be more appropriate for a technician travelling between towns. The study’s findings about smaller packs needing more cycles to cover the same distance provide a useful reminder: vehicle suitability depends on route length, payload, charging access and daily utilisation, not just purchase age.
A practical EV inspection checklist
- Request an independent battery health or SoH report before buying a used EV.
- Compare the reported SoH with the vehicle’s original usable capacity and expected route distance.
- Review charging history where available, including frequent high-power charging.
- Check whether the battery warranty is still active and understand its conditions.
- Test the vehicle with your normal payload, air-conditioning use and route pattern.
- Record battery health in your fleet maintenance system for future comparison.
- Plan charging around operating hours so staff are not waiting during peak work periods.
The Bigger Picture
The broader message is that battery degradation may be less dramatic than many business owners assume. Even the lowest-ranked models in this dataset retained a substantial portion of their original capacity after 150,000 kilometres, while several leading models remained above 93%. Source: Electrek, reporting AVILOO’s 500,000-plus test dataset.
However, this does not mean every EV is automatically suitable for every SME. Your decision still needs to include charging availability at your premises, route planning, driver behaviour, downtime procedures and the ability to continue operations if a public charger is occupied or unavailable. Battery health is one important data point, not the entire fleet strategy.
The study also shows why business automation can improve EV operations. You can use a central vehicle log to track mileage, charging sessions, route distance, battery SoH, service dates and driver assignments. Automated reminders can flag when a vehicle needs inspection, while route records can show whether a particular car is being used beyond its practical daily range.
For a Malaysian SME, the best approach is to start with one clearly defined use case. Choose a vehicle for predictable urban deliveries, employee travel or customer visits. Collect operating data for several months, including charging time and route completion. Then decide whether the next EV should have the same battery size and operating profile.
The new battery research gives you a stronger foundation for that decision. Rather than treating an EV battery as an unknown risk, you can evaluate it through independent testing, usage data and proper fleet records. For your business, that means a more informed vehicle purchase and fewer surprises during daily operations.
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