Question for EV owners: anyone own one long term? Battery degradation?

[Neps]

I must be an outlier, or perhaps it's just the particular battery chemistry Ford used in the Focus EV, but..

2017 Focus EV battery died just before the 8 year warranty ended. Cost for the new battery (Ford purchased) was 24K with labor and associated battery harnesses. The car values between 8K and 14K. Took four months to get the battery replaced, and I observed three other Focus EV awaiting batteries while I was waiting for mine.

I told Ford I'd settle for 10K and walk away, but they refused and replaced the battery for twice as much as the vehicle is worth?

The battery didn't suffer from degradation, but failed quickly (within two weeks).

Other than the battery replacement only maintenance/repair cost have been tires and wipers. Up until the battery issues it's been a very dependable and cost effective vehicle.

 

[swambeach]

Do batteries degrade with time, or only with use? Would a low mileage vehicle not need replacement batteries? Isn’t replacing batteries cost prohibitive?

That is the general understanding and mostly what you will find on the interwebs; However, by buddy buys old Teslas from people that are having battery issues (typically around 150k - 200k miles) because those owners think it's too expensive and complicated to deal with. In his little garage with standard tools he drops the battery packs, tests each one to isolate the ones that are not holding a good charge, replaces those for a couple grand each and the car is as good as new - Then he sells them for a great profit!

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I'd rather replace a battery pack in an EV than a motor in a ICE vehicle.