Also, batteries lose capacity with time as well as use.
You should probably link to the study.
>3 and 6 years is probably not very factual.
3 years might be early, but I have a hard time believing that Tesla has hit on some magic as far as batteries are concerned. The drain on anything I have at home is far more than what you state; my phone battery certainly isn't much good after 6 years.. But I have no idea. I guess we'll see as the current Teslas age.
What kills lithium batteries is time, cycle count, heat, and extreme states of charge. A Tesla battery has a massive advantage on three out of those four compared to consumer electronics, which is why comparing to your phone or laptop isn't very informative.
https://steinbuch.wordpress.com/2015/01/24/tesla-model-s-bat... [A blogpost about the study]
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/t024bMoRiDPIDialGnuKP... [The study/survey]
http://www.daglievemensen.nl/tesla/maxrange.htm [Interactive graph]
And as bonus a link to the Tesla Roadster battery study: http://www.groen7.nl/images/wp2013/divers/PIA-Roadster-Batte...
Based on 84 data points from the 85-kWh version of the Model S and six from 60-kWh cars, the study concludes that the Model S will retain about 94 percent of its capacity after 50,000 miles, with losses thereafter shrinking to about 1 percent per 30,000 miles.
That means that after 100,000 miles, the typical Model S is projected to retain about 92 percent of its battery capacity and range.
So what "fact" you are relying on stating the battery will have to be replaced between 3 and 6 years is probably not very factual. Other, simpler EVs, lacking the rather sophisticated battery management system of the Model S might degrade quicker - especially in warmer climates, but nowhere near as fast as you state.
Other than that, you're right in that most EVs are almost as complex as a modern ICE. They need to be checked regularly and will need repairs.