Acquiring an electric car for the first time can be quite stressful. Everybody we speak to seems to have their own opinion, with emotions running high especially over batteries. We hope our simple guide to electric car batteries helps clear your thoughts. Then you can make the right decision that suits you and your loved ones best.
Charging Electric Car Batteries
Let’s assume you plan to use your car to commute during the week, and for shopping and leisure over the weekend. Ask the dealer to confirm how many miles you can drive on an 80% battery charge. You want to avoid fully charging your battery whenever you can, in case you shorten its life.
Decide which night of the week to top up your electric car battery to 80%, on your regular household power. This should give you enough electricity to cover your driving needs for a week. If not, then charge the electric car battery more often at home.
If you go on a longer journey, let’s say for vacation or business, then you may need to recharge the battery away from home. Use commercial recharging points along the way. Try to avoid fast charging, in case you shorten your battery life again.
Extending the Life of Your Battery
Electric car batteries are very simple devices, but they do need responsible care just like your smartphone. The second half of our guide to electric car batteries tells you how to do this. If you get this right, then you may never need to replace the main battery in your car.
First and foremost, avoid charging the battery to more than 80%, and never allow it to drop below 10% charge. Batteries are happiest between 20% and 70%, as we said just like your phone.
Batteries in electric cars also like variety. Vary your driving pattern by resting your car, during short stops on a long journey. You need to do this anyway, so your mind remains alert. Stop and smell the coffee at roadside diners. Enjoy the silent electric motor every time you get going again.
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