EXTEND YOUR EV’S BATTERY LIFE WITH THESE TIPS

Most electric vehicle users are new to the segment and not aware of its dos and don’ts. Thus, it is imperative that they prepare themselves before making a battery-powered purchase

ELITHIUM-ION USED IN BATTERIES VEHICLES ELECTRIC TO AROUND FIVE LAST FOR BUT MISUSE SEVEN YEARS, DEGRADE CAN BATTERIES OF CAPACITY. AND THEIR LIFE SOME SIMPLE HOWEVER, AND GOOD PRECAUTIONS ARE MAINTENANCE EXTEND ENOUGH TO BATTERY LIFE

lectric vehicles (EVs) are becoming popular across the world, but the biggest contributor to their high cost remains the battery. Usually, lithium-ion batteries used in most EVs last around five-seven years easily, but often, misuse of batteries can degrade their life and capacity.

The best battery warranty available for any EV in the world currently is 10 years. However, according to a Tesla co-founder and the EV maker’s former chief technology officer, JB Straubel, EV batteries can last 15 years.

The claim sounds a bit exaggerated, but with some simple precautions and good maintenance, one can extend the life of an electric vehicle’s battery. We have listed some such tips to help you extend your EV’s battery life and prevent any damages to it.

Avoid using fast charging: Fast charging allows an EV battery to be charged significantly quicker than its standard charging time. This may sound very appealing, but it is not good for the battery’s health. Fast charging presses too much electricity into the batteries in a short period of time, resulting in straining of the battery life and waning it faster. According to estimates, using standard charging for one year will ensure 10% more battery life compared to one year of fast charging.

Maintain optimal battery charge: When electric vehicles are parked for a long time with a fully drained out or a fully charged battery, this can be bad for its life. Therefore, maintaining optimal battery charge is important. Try to keep the battery charge between 25 and 75%.

Avoid charging frequently: Having an electric vehicle charged to the fullest always may sound tempting, but it’s not good for battery health. Frequent charging can degrade its life and performance quicker than the usual time. Even though a full charge offers the rider the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of the battery. Use original charger: Using the original charger of an electric vehicle, as provided by the manufacturer, is advisable. A third-party EV charger may be tempting to buy from the market, as they are often significantly cheaper and easily available, but using those may increase the risk of malfunction and an EV fire as well. Do not charge the battery immediately after a ride: An EV battery gets extremely hot when in use during a ride, and charging it immediately doesn’t allow it to cool down. Hence, give around 30 minutes for the battery to cool down before recharging it.

Avoid knocking or dropping the battery: Dropping the battery hard or knocking it off with other objects can displace and damage its internal components. This can damage the thermal management system inside the battery and increase the risk of fire. Also, it reduces the battery life significantly and impacts the EV’s performance as well.