Ford Proved EV Battery Health Barely Degrades: 5 Years of Mach-E Data From CNET
Ford’s fleetwide findings
Ford studied vehicles delivered to customers in all 50 US states and Canada during the Mach-E’s first sales year. The surveyed fleet averaged 92% battery health after more than five years on the road.
The company said roughly 95% of the vehicles fell within a range of 87% to 97% health. Together, the SUVs had accumulated an estimated 2 billion miles, according to Ford.
What the results mean for range
The 2021 Mach-E had an EPA-estimated range of 211 to 305 miles, depending on its configuration. Based on the reported health figures, the article’s author estimated that owners had lost about 16 to 24 miles of range over time.
Battery condition matters to used-EV shoppers weighing whether an older vehicle can meet their driving needs. A replacement battery can be costly, making durability a concern for buyers considering higher-mileage electric cars.
Higher mileage, more wear
About 2,000 Mach-Es in the study had passed 100,000 miles and retained around 91% battery health. A smaller group of about 30 drivers reached 200,000 miles, with average health of 88%.
One owner had driven more than 400,000 miles on the original battery, but Ford did not report that vehicle’s battery health. The account involved a 2022 Mach-E, rather than one of the 2021 vehicles in the fleet analysis.
Other studies and future batteries
An Aviloo analysis of more than 500,000 electric vehicles from 20 brands found that many popular models retained over 90% health at high mileage. At 150,000 kilometers, it reported 90.3% for the Tesla Model Y, 90.6% for the Volkswagen ID4 and 92.8% for the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Ford engineers and battery chemists said the Mach-E battery was designed to last at least 10 years. The 2021 models use nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry, while Ford’s upcoming Universal Electric Vehicle platform, including the Fathom small electric pickup, will use lithium iron phosphate batteries with different charging needs and battery-management calibration.
Key points
- Ford reported average battery health of 92% across more than 36,000 2021 Mustang Mach-Es.
- About 95% of surveyed vehicles retained between 87% and 97% battery health.
- Mach-Es with 200,000 miles averaged 88% battery health.