How To Ruin Your Electric Car's Battery - 3 Common Mistakes

Introduction

This tutorial provides essential tips on maintaining your electric car's battery health. Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are costly to replace, but with proper care, you can significantly extend their lifespan. Here, we will explore three common mistakes to avoid and best practices for keeping your battery in optimal condition.

Step 1: Avoid Storing Your Battery at 100%

• Why it’s important: Storing your battery at full charge, especially in high temperatures, accelerates degradation.
• Recommended practice:
  • If you must store your EV for an extended period, aim for a 30% state of charge.
  • In cold conditions, storing at 70% is acceptable due to lower reactivity.

Step 2: Recharge Regularly and Avoid Deep Discharge

• Why it’s important: Frequently discharging your battery to low levels can cause physical stress and cracks in the battery's internal structure.
• Recommended practice:
  • Maintain your battery between 60% and 80% charge.
  • Plug in your car after short trips to take advantage of small, frequent charges instead of waiting until the battery is low.

Step 3: Do Not Regularly Charge to 100%

• Why it’s important: Consistently charging to full capacity can negatively impact the battery's longevity.
• Recommended practice:
  • Charge to 75% for daily use to balance range and battery health.
  • If you have a long trip planned, feel free to charge to 100% the night before, but avoid making it a regular habit.

Additional Considerations

• Fast Charging: Using fast chargers is generally safe as modern vehicles manage charging rates to protect battery health.
• Battery Chemistry: Most of these practices apply to NMC batteries (nickel, manganese, cobalt). If you have a different battery type, consult your vehicle's guidelines.

Conclusion

By following these guidelines—avoiding long-term storage at full charge, recharging regularly, and limiting full charges—you can help ensure your electric car's battery remains healthy for years to come. Implementing these practices not only saves you money but also enhances your overall driving experience. For further insights, consider exploring detailed research on battery health and maintenance practices.