How to Extend the Battery Life of Electric Vehicles?
Ways to Extend the Life of Electric Vehicle Batteries

The only thing that ages a battery isn't just the passing years. While time remains the primary cause of degradation for electric vehicle batteries, the battery's charge status and exposure to extreme weather conditions also significantly affect its lifespan.

 

1. Avoid Exposure to Extreme Weather Conditions While Parked

Exposure to high temperatures while parked and unplugged is the most common threat. The automatic temperature control system in your electric car works to keep the temperature low, unnecessarily draining your battery for optimum efficiency. However, this performance should typically only occur while your electric car is on the road utilizing its battery. Therefore, it's important to park your electric car in the shade or plug it in to ensure that the thermal management system operates solely using grid power. Also, make sure the vehicle operates within a stable temperature range during use.

 

2. Don't Always Charge Your Battery to 100%

Electric vehicles come with a battery management system to prevent overcharging or over-discharging the battery. Not charging the battery from 0% to 100% improves the performance and lifespan of your car's battery. While a full charge may allow you to travel longer distances, it's not ideal for the overall lifespan of your battery.

 

3. Limit the Use of Fast Charging

Using fast charging when your batteries are nearly empty is a convenient way to recharge quickly. However, fast charging delivers such a high current to the battery in a short period that it strains the battery, causing it to age faster. While it may be difficult to notice the battery's aging, standard charging over eight years provides 10% more battery life compared to fast charging over the same period.

 

4. Monitor the Optimal Battery Charge Status During Long Parked Periods

Parking or storing electric cars with empty or fully charged batteries also degrades them. If you don't frequently use your electric car or plan to leave it unused for an extended period, consider purchasing a timed charging device and plug it in. Leaving your vehicle parked with a 100% charge for a long time can strain the battery in your absence. Setting the charger to maintain the charge slightly above the low level, not filling it to maximum capacity, i.e., maintaining a charge level between 25% to 75%, is one of the methods you can employ.

 

By following these guidelines, you can effectively extend the lifespan of your electric vehicle's battery, ensuring better performance and longevity.