It could not really be painful for your credit card to replace your smartphone’s lithium-ion battery as it will only cost you about $10 to $20. However, if your electric vehicle’s battery starts to show problems which need immediate replacement, you certainly might feel worried, bad, bankrupt (to some), as electric car batteries are really expensive. One could cost from $2,000 to $15,000 depending on type of battery installed on the EV. Yes, although Electric Vehicles (EVs) are very economical and probably cheaper compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, this one-time change could really cause a headache to some.
Some EV manufacturers provide extended warranties on batteries such as about 8 years or 100,000 miles. However, the warranty could not cover any mistakes the owner committed in handling the batteries.
Since electric vehicles have not yet found the appropriate battery that has the capability to outshine the performance of the gasoline-powered vehicles, taking good care of it must never be neglected. Here are some tips on how to take good care of your vehicle’s battery:
Avoid Over Charging and Draining
This is the most common mistake EV owners commit – pushing EV’s battery to its maximum limit. According to manufacturers, li-ion batteries should never be charged to their maximum level and be used till they run out of power because it loses its electrons. Lost electrons may never be acquired again, thus, it could really affect the battery’s performance. Although you may be able to make use of your batteries longer when you recharge your batteries well, the adverse effect can shorten its lifespan.
EV manufacturers always advise EV owners to charge batteries on a daily basis. Charging your batteries even if it is not yet fully consumed is okay; partial charging is also okay. Lithium-ion batteries should only be charged for not more than 80% to retain its utmost performance.
Keep it Away from too much Heat
EVs are best parked in the shade. If you are driving your EV especially during the summer, you have to make sure that you park it where it cannot be directly exposed to sunlight. Prolonged exposure to heat can affect the performance of the batteries.
Luckily, there are some EVs that have thermal management installed which incorporate air or water in keeping the batteries cool. You must not let the thermal management run continually because it will drain your battery within a few hours.
Proper Handling during Storage
If you have decided not to use your EV, proper storage is essential so as to keep your batteries working well. So what are you going to do?
- Keep it in your garage. Make sure that the temperature is cool enough, but never freezing.
- Charge batteries up to 60%.
- Typically, EV’s batteries slowly self-discharge so it is always best to monitor your vehicle. Once you have noticed that it is already 20% or if you have stored your vehicle for 3 months, recharge the batteries once again to 60%.
During the storage, the batteries on your EV may not be balanced.To fix the problem, when you are ready to use it once again, fully recharge it twice. This will alleviate probable problems of not being able to use your vehicle at its maximum performance.
Be Careful in using “Fast Charging Devices”
There are chargers that could save you time as they can recharge your batteries faster than using a conventional charger. On the other hand, it could lessen the capacity of your battery for about 1% each year, and so could lead to changing your batteries sooner than expected.
Electric vehicles are undeniably beneficial to the environment and user. However, like conventional vehicles, they require attention.
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