There is a considerable amount of hype – dare we say scepticism – around electric vehicle battery charging. Does this condemn them to being merely city runabouts? We think not. We strip away the fake news on social media. Stay with us if you would like to know the truth.
What is the Truth about Electric Vehicle Battery Charging?
Do Not Overcharge the Battery
When we eat too much turkey at thanksgiving, we have a bloated feeling. While we wouldn’t like to personalize EV batteries, it’s a fact! Overfilling them with energy is not good for them either.
Now we already know this in principle, and try to apply it to our phones. The chemistry in EV batteries is similar, and the same principles apply.
- Never charge an EV battery to 100%, unless this is unavoidable.
- Most of them perform best in the 30% to 80% charged range.
- Fully-charging stresses the battery, and could cause it to fail sooner.
- Keeping below 80% leaves space for free regenerative-braking energy.
Do Not Drain the Battery Either
We may feel pretty horrid if we have not eaten for a day. Battery chemistry also gets a wobbly if the cells remain flat. Keep your eye on the meter – that’s why it is there – and try your best to keep it above 20%. It’s a smart idea to start charging your electric vehicle battery at this point, because you don’t want to run it flat.
Don’t Recharge the Battery Right Away
EV batteries become warm when in use powering vehicles. Allow them to cool for 30 minutes at the recharging point if you can. The reason is the electric current would otherwise travel faster, and this could eventually damage the battery.
Avoid Frequent Electric Vehicle Battery Charging
It may sound strange, but this point is mission-critical if you want your battery to have a longer, happier life. An EV battery can only withstand a certain number of recharges before it starts to age. Use yours frugally.
Perhaps these tips run counter to your busy schedule? You might be able to ignore them, and enjoy an average EV battery life. Although you may regret this someday, when you discover what a new one costs, and recall the unnecessary recharges you may have made.
More Information
Depth of Discharge in Storage Batteries
