Tips to keep your electric car battery in good condition

Electric car batteries, like all the ones we use every day, degrade over time and lose some of their capacity. Thus they become less efficient, with the consequence that their capacity is reduced every year, even slightly, and therefore the electrical autonomy of the car.

Most electric cars use lithium-ion batteries that degrade after hundreds of charge and use cycles. Manufacturers are convinced that the operation of a battery will provide adequate power for a long time. This is why most give an 8 year warranty or 160,000 miles. Of course, an electric car battery is no different than a plug-in hybrid car battery, since the same data applies.

Battery degradation does not greatly affect acceleration and rolling levels, except in the final autonomy of the vehicle. It is noted that the reduction of autonomy in an eight-year Nissan Leaf can be about 20% compared to the new one, according to recent independent tests.

Fully charging or completely draining the electric car battery can degrade it faster. Maintaining the charge level between about 20% and 80% is the best maintenance that the driver has to do in order to achieve the highest level of capacity. In fact, it is the main point of emphasis of the companies that offer only 100% charging in case of travel. It is no coincidence that car manufacturers often refer to 80% of battery capacity as charging time, rather than full charge.

Frequent use of DC fast chargers also has a detrimental effect on battery life. However, fast charging is the fastest way to recharge a battery and the fastest public charging points can cover up to 80% in just 30-40 minutes.

EVs have advanced battery management systems that help slow charge when needed to protect it from overcharging. This is why fast chargers start to reduce power when the batteries are more than 80% full.

If you charge more slowly through a charging point in the house or a household outlet, it is advisable to charge the battery at night when the ambient temperature is lower, while at the same time the driver, in this case, is more economical because it is not a zone with small energy grids of the electricity network. Another tip is to move the car as soon as possible after it has finished charging.

If the electric car is not going to travel a few kilometers, it is best not to fully charge the battery as this will help it last longer. Acceleration and hard use of the car wear out the battery faster. The range between charges will be reduced, so there will be more charges resulting in reduced capacity. It is also a good idea to avoid extreme temperatures, if possible, as these can reduce the car’s battery life and battery life.

Finally, most new electric car batteries have a warranty of about eight years, giving the battery a sense of reliability. Such warranties usually guarantee at least 70% battery capacity (and therefore range) at the end of the coverage period.