How can I extend the life of my electric car battery?
The battery of an electric vehicle (EV) is one of the most important and expensive components of the vehicle. Not surprisingly, many drivers wonder how to maintain its efficiency and maximum lifetime.
According to experts, following a few simple but effective rules, it is certainly possible. How do I take care of my EV battery and what mistakes should I avoid? We have the answers!
How long will the battery last?
Typically, EV manufacturers give batteries warranties of 8 to 10 years or up to 160 000 kilometres.
However, these are only preliminary figures. In most cases, the battery will last longer than the warranty period, depending on how carefully it has been used. Over time, the efficiency of the battery decreases, but this happens gradually. After 10 years, you can expect the battery to still retain around 70-80% of its original capacity.
This means that even if the battery loses some of its capacity after the warranty period of 160,000 kilometres, it can still maintain sufficient performance for your next journey
Electric car batteries are designed to withstand a certain number of charging cycles. Most modern batteries can withstand between 1 500 and 2 000 charging cycles. One charge cycle usually gives a range of around 300 kilometres: that's around 450,000 kilometres of total range over the life of the battery.
For example, the Citroën ë-C4 has a 50 kWh battery which, when charged at a rapid charging station of the same capacity, will not cause significant damage, and this process allows a range of more than 300 kilometres.
4 Battery care tips
1. Avoid full charges and discharges
Although it may seem logical to use the full capacity of the battery, charging the EV to 100% and discharging it to 0% is not the best choice if you want to extend the life of the battery.
Experts note that such a cycle puts more stress on the battery and can adversely affect its longevity.
It is recommended to keep an electric car between 20% and 80% charged. When the battery charge is kept within this range, the voltage on the electrodes is reduced, resulting in less wear and tear on the battery components and potentially extending its life.
2. Whenever possible, prefer slow charging of the battery.
Battery degradation is directly related to the number of charging cycles. Each time the battery is charged and discharged, it slowly wears out. However, not all charging methods work the same.
Fast charging is a particularly convenient feature for electric vehicles. However, if it is used continuously, there is a risk of adverse effects on the battery. Frequent use of fast charging accelerates the ageing of the battery, as fast charging leads to increased heat build-up.
Heat is one of the main factors that reduces battery efficiency, so it is advisable to use slow charging more often, which is less damaging to the battery. It allows the battery to slowly reach the right level of charge, avoiding excess heat. This reduces the risk of rapid wear and tear and extends the life of the battery.
3. Avoid extreme temperatures
Both cold and heat can have a significant negative impact on an electric vehicle battery. Hot weather, especially in summer, can dangerously increase the temperature of the battery. Cold is not good either - extremely low temperatures reduce the battery's capacity and can cause long-term damage.
Most modern electric cars have integrated thermoregulation systems that help maintain the battery at the optimum temperature. But extra protection doesn't hurt: try to park your car in a cool place in summer and a heated place in winter. You can also use the battery's warming or cooling functions if your electric car has them.
4. Drive responsibly.
Sudden acceleration and braking puts a lot of instantaneous strain on the battery, eventually reducing the battery's performance and accelerating wear and tear.
It is best to adopt a smooth and moderate driving style - maintain a steady speed, avoid sudden acceleration and brake gently.
Regenerative braking, which is fitted to most modern electric cars, also helps to extend battery life by 'feeding' the energy recovered during braking back into the battery.
