As electric vehicles become more popular, people are looking to learn more about them. One of the biggest differences between an electric vehicle and a gas vehicle is the battery size and weight.
Electric car batteries are quite large and very heavy. Many people are surprised to find out the actual weight of the batteries used on electric vehicles.
This article will show you how much an electric car battery weighs along with some current examples.
How much does an electric car battery weigh?
Depending on the size of the battery and the make and model of the electric vehicle, the weight of a battery can vary. But on average, an electric vehicle battery weighs between 800-1200 pounds.
Smaller Electric cars use much smaller batteries that can weigh less than 500 pounds, but larger electric vehicles can have batteries that weigh over 2000 pounds.
Compared to gas-powered or hybrid vehicles, the batteries used in electric vehicles are much heavier. For example, the average battery used in a gas-powered vehicle weighs around 40 pounds, and closer to 100 pounds for hybrid vehicles.
With the weight of electric car batteries being so heavy, you can see why the overall weight of these vehicles is much higher than a standard gas-powered car.
Why are electric car batteries so heavy?
In order to make a battery strong enough to power an electric car, it needs to be quite large and contain a large amount of lithium.
Also, the amount of lead used also contributes to its weight.
Lithium-ion battery capacity is measured in kWh. The more kWh of the battery, the heavier it will be.
For example, a battery that is 70 kWh will weigh more than a battery that is 40 kWh.
The average electric car uses a 40 kWh battery.
Electric car batteries are also wrapped in metal armor which makes them considerably safer but also adds to the overall weight of the battery.
Weight of electric car batteries – table
| Electric vehicle | Battery size | Battery weight – lbs | Battery weight – kgs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf | 40 kWh – 62 kWh | 668-903 | 303-410 |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 65 kWh | 960 | 440 |
| Mustang Mach E | 75.7 kWh | 1069 | 485 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 82 kWh | 1060 | 480 |
| Kia EV6 | 58 kWh – 77.4 kWh | 816-1052 | 370-477 |
| Tesla Model S | 85 kWh | 1200 | 544 |
| Volkswagen ID4 | 77 kWh | 1087 | 493 |
| GMC Hummer Edition 1 | 210 kWh | 2923 | 1325 |
What is the heaviest battery on an electric vehicle?
The heaviest battery on an electric vehicle is on the GMC Hummer Edition 1 which weighs 2,923 pounds or 1,325 kilograms.
The weight of this 210 kWh battery alone weighs more than the total weight of a Hyundai Elantra car.
On average, an electric vehicle battery weighs between 800-1200 pounds.
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How long does an electric car battery last?
As electric vehicles are so new, most EVs have not had a chance to run for as long as the lifespan of the battery. The life expectancy of an electric car battery is between 10 to 20 years but this can vary on a number of factors.
Electric vehicle batteries can degrade over time if they are being operated in warm climates. The optimum temperature to operate an EV is 70 degrees.
Some electric vehicles have thermal management systems to help reduce the temperature in warmer climates.
Charging the battery will also cause it to degrade over time. This is normal and there is not much that can be done about it as the battery needs to be charged.
Charging the battery at a level 3 charging station that has rapid charging can cause the battery to overheat which can reduce its life expectancy.
What is the range of an electric car battery?
The amount of miles or range an electric car can travel before needing to be recharged depends on the vehicle.
Certain EVs with small batteries may only have a 200-mile range or less whereas others can have a 500-mile range. It depends on the size of the battery being used.
For example, the range of a Nissan Leaf with a 40 kWh battery is only 149 miles. The range of a Tesla Model S with an 85 kWh battery is 405 miles.
The size of the battery makes a huge difference with respect to the overall range of the vehicle.
How much does it cost to replace an electric battery?
All electric vehicles in the USA come with a battery warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles. If you are outside of the warranty period and need to replace the battery, it will cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000. The average battery cost will be around $10,000.
