EV batteries require some special care in order to extend their lifespan and maximize range and performance. Small adjustments in charging habits, temperature management and battery maintenance can make a big difference when it comes to optimizing EV range and performance.
Keep your battery charged between 30-60% to help prolong its longevity and avoid draining it too low, which strains its cells and hastens its demise. Do this to extend its lifespan.
Avoid Overcharging
While electric vehicle batteries degrade over time, keeping them from being overcharged or overused will help extend their lifespan. This may mean plugging your vehicle in semi-nightly or at least every other drive cycle depending on your commute and driving habits.
It is best to keep your battery at 20% to 80% for optimal daily use and maximum range. For longer trips or extended uses, however, 100% charging may be recommended for maximum protection and performance.
Lithium-ion batteries work best under moderate temperatures; prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures can increase degradation and limit their range. When charging on hot days, try charging in an enclosed garage or shaded area in order to protect the batteries from reaching too high of temperatures. Preheating or cooling the battery prior to use may also help decrease degradation, thus improving both performance and range for your EV.
Avoid Excessive Temperature
Extreme heat and cold, deep discharge, overcharging and excessive usage can shorten a battery’s lifespan significantly, so to minimize these factors it is wise to follow manufacturer’s recommendations regarding charging and usage.
Choose a shaded parking spot on hot days to help protect against battery degradation; similarly, parking in a garage during cold weather will prevent overcharging. Furthermore, preconditioning features on an electric vehicle can help minimize its auxiliary load on its battery pack, improving charging efficiency and range.
Though overcharging an EV should be avoided, certain maximum charges are beneficial to its management system. A periodic maximum charge between 20% and 80% will help your battery maintain peak performance, as well as changing driving habits to conserve energy by limiting acceleration or keeping speeds constant, thus increasing range and longevity of your EV. It’s also advisable to stay up-to-date on software updates and maintenance schedules of the car itself.
Avoid Frequent Charging
Taxes must be paid, pants must be worn, and driving on sidewalks should be avoided; and there are best practices to help extend battery life in an EV. In general, it’s recommended that EVs be charged up to around 80% capacity as charging rates begin to slow significantly past this mark and this will benefit your battery pack in terms of health in the long run.
As part of your battery care routine, it is also important to avoid frequent use of fast chargers as these tend to produce more heat than regular chargers and thus can significantly shorten battery lifespan. When possible, regular chargers should be preferred over fast ones and save fast chargers for when your trip requires it.
Additionally, allow your EV time to cool before plugging it in. Battery management systems help ensure optimal conditions for accepting, holding, and discharging electricity – this is why many vehicles feature advanced thermal management systems which take care of this task for you.
Avoid Overdriving
An electric vehicle (EV) battery won’t remain unsusceptible to degradation over time, but smart charging habits can mitigate its rate of loss. Maintaining your EV at a moderate temperature, avoiding overcharging or discharging completely and monitoring charging cycles are all effective ways of prolonging battery life span.
Modern EVs feature fail-safe systems to safeguard their batteries. But getting close to empty can add additional strain on them and reduce range; try staying well above this threshold in order to minimize Range Anxiety and extend battery lifespan.
Deliberately limiting long periods of idling (particularly on hot days) can also help preserve battery health. Idling can deplete its lithium-ion chemistry over time, so it’s vital that this time be kept to a minimum.