Guide · Battery health
The Recurrent Range Score, explained
We put a Recurrent Range Score on every used EV we sell. It is the battery number you will see on each of our listings, so it is worth five minutes to understand what it says and what it does not.
Last updated October 8, 2026
What the score is
Recurrent is a company that studies EV batteries using data from real cars on the road. Its Range Score compares the range a specific car is expected to deliver today with the range that was normal for that same make, model and battery when new.
- It is a number out of 100. A score of 90 means the car is expected to deliver about 90 percent of its original range.
- It can go above 100. Some cars deliver more than the typical figure for their model.
- "Original range" is measured, not the sticker. Recurrent compares against the range it observed in cars of that model when they were new, not the EPA rating. Its own example: the 2018 Tesla Model 3 Long Range was rated at 310 miles by the EPA, and Recurrent observed 303 miles in new cars.
Where the number comes from
Recurrent collects battery and charging readings from more than 30,000 connected EVs whose owners have opted in. For a car being sold, it combines the battery details tied to that VIN with what it knows about similar cars, and estimates the car's range today and three years from now. The report also covers charging times.
The scores on our lot right now
Every car in stock today that has a Recurrent report, highest score first.
| Car | Miles | Range Score | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 8,451 | 98 (Excellent) | Recurrent report |
| 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 6 Limited AWD | 47,982 | 98 (Excellent) | Recurrent report |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range | 17,520 | 94 (Excellent) | Recurrent report |
| 2023 Tesla Model Y Long Range | 25,468 | 93 (Excellent) | Recurrent report |
| 2023 Rivian R1S Adventure | 62,645 | 93 (Excellent) | Recurrent report |
| 2022 Tesla Model Y Performance | 104,107 | 89 (Good) | Recurrent report |
What the score cannot tell you
Recurrent is plain about the limits, and so are we:
- It is an estimate, not a lab test. Recurrent says that without a laboratory test of the battery it is impossible to make guarantees.
- It does not replace a test drive or a formal battery diagnostic. That is also Recurrent's wording.
- Range is not the same thing as capacity. Automakers can release reserve capacity as a battery ages, so range can hold steady while the pack itself slowly wears.
- Your range will vary. Speed, weather, tires and how you charge all move the real number. Winter alone can take 20 to 30 percent. See EV range in a northern Indiana winter.
- A very high score on a very high mileage car has a reason. Recurrent notes that scores above 95 on high mileage cars usually mean the battery pack has been replaced.
Range Score versus state of health
You will also see battery health quoted as "state of health," often shortened to SoH. That is a different measurement. State of health compares the energy a pack can hold today with what it held when new. A 60 kilowatt-hour pack at 80 percent state of health behaves like a 48 kilowatt-hour pack.
A state of health test reads the battery through the car itself. One example is the AVILOO test, which plugs into the diagnostic port: in its full version the driver charges to 100 percent and drives down to 10 percent, and the result is a certified state of health percentage. Tesla also builds a battery health test into its cars.
The two answer slightly different questions. The Range Score tells you how this car's expected range compares with the same model when new. A state of health test tells you how much energy this particular pack holds today. Either one beats guessing.
How long EV batteries last
- Range fades slowly. Recurrent reported in January 2026 that the average EV keeps 97 percent of its range after three years and 95 percent after five.
- Replacements are rare. Outside of large recalls, Recurrent finds fewer than 4 percent of the EVs it tracks have had the battery replaced. For 2022 and newer cars it is 0.3 percent.
- High mileage is not a death sentence. The 100 highest mileage cars in Recurrent's data, all past 175,000 miles, averaged a Range Score of 86.6.
- How you charge matters some. Geotab's 2026 study of more than 22,700 EVs found batteries lose about 2.3 percent of capacity a year on average: about 3 percent for cars that lean on high-power DC fast charging and about 1.5 percent for cars charged mostly on slower AC power, such as a home charger.
- The warranty is the backstop. The standard EV battery warranty in the US is 8 years or 100,000 miles, and it generally covers a pack that falls below 70 percent of its capacity.
Range Score questions
What is a good Recurrent Range Score?
Recurrent said in January 2024 that 94 percent of the EVs it had evaluated scored 90 or above, so a score in the 90s is typical for a healthy used EV. A lower score on an older or higher mileage car is not a defect by itself. Weigh the score against the car's age, miles and price.
Can a Range Score be higher than 100?
Yes. The score compares a car with the typical range for its model when new, and some cars beat the typical figure.
Is the Range Score the same as battery state of health?
No. The Range Score estimates how much of its original range a car delivers, based on data from many similar cars. State of health measures how much energy that specific battery pack can hold compared with new.
Where do I see the report for a car at Otonamo?
On the car's listing. Each listing shows the Range Score and links to the full Recurrent report. If a car has just arrived and its report is still on the way, the listing says so.
Does a high score guarantee the battery?
No. It is an estimate based on data, and Recurrent itself says guarantees are impossible without a laboratory test. The guarantee is the manufacturer's battery warranty. Ask us what remains on the car you are considering.
Keep reading
Sources
- Recurrent: what is the Recurrent rating (Range Score), read October 2026
- Recurrent: dealer FAQ, read October 2026
- Recurrent: how does Recurrent work, read October 2026
- Recurrent: check Tesla battery health for free, November 3, 2025
- Recurrent: what a billion miles of data shows, January 15, 2026
- Recurrent: how long do EV batteries last, November 11, 2025
- Recurrent: how reliable are high mileage EVs, August 6, 2024
- Recurrent and Black Book: battery adjusted values, January 23, 2024
- Geotab: EV battery health and fast charging study, January 13, 2026
- TUV SUD: the AVILOO battery test, 2022