7 Smart tips to extend your EVs battery life

The battery is the lifeline of an electric vehicle (EV). Getting the most out of an EV battery not only allows you to travel farther, but it also avoids the embarrassment of being stranded on the roadside for the lack of sufficient charge. All rechargeable batteries degrade over time. However, with proper maintenance, an EV battery can last longer than its usual lifetime.

Here’s how you can extend the life of your EV battery.

Never charge the maximum

Most EV users believe that charging the battery fully will allow a longer commute and an extended drive-time. However, for lithium-ion batteries, it is advisable to charge up to 80 percent instead of a full recharge. The balance 20 percent of uncharged cells allow the battery to have space for regenerative braking which converts the kinetic energy into usable energy.

Avoid quick charging  

Quick charging of your EV battery is apparently a great way to save time, particularly when you are in a hurry. But the fact is, every time you put the battery on a fast charger, it reduces the unit’s lifetime. Normally recharging a lithium-ion battery for eight years usually takes away 20 percent of the battery’s life. Regular fast charging of the same capacity battery for eight years will leave 70 percent or less life. While in the long run, it may not seem to be a major difference, you can at least add some more years to the battery’s lifetime and delay the investment in replacing the unit. 

Avoid full discharging

Fully discharging your EV battery before recharging reduces the overall life of the battery unit. Recharge the unit when you see that the charge has dropped to the 30 percent mark. Recharging the unit at this point won’t allow the charge to go down further, or stay low for a long time.

Check your speed

Cruising at a constant speed returns the best mileage for both conventional cars and EVs. While it is not always possible to maintain the same speed especially within the city, try to drive your EV slower if the traffic allows. This will conserve the energy drawn from the EV battery. Choosing a road that has less traffic and allows driving at a slower speed is a smarter alternative than taking your car for a sprint. It saves precious time in recharging which would have been otherwise lost if the battery drained out faster than expected.

Park in the shade

Many people have a habit of parking away from a store or office just to avoid the congested parking lots and the hot sun. While parking EVs, try to find a shady place to park the car. Besides keeping your car cool for the duration it’s kept idle, parking in the shade prevents the thermal management system running the entire time. It also prevents the battery from overheating. An EV battery loses charge when it’s overheated.

Plan for your vacation storage

Plan your EV battery recharge if you have a vacation coming up and won’t be requiring the car for a number of days. You may leave your car at the airport or your port of departure and drive it home when you return. If you take a cab from the airport while returning, you may leave your EV plugged in, setting the charge at around 50 percent. This will avoid overcharging the battery while you are away. The charge of an EV battery goes down with each passing day. Ensure that there’s enough charge left in the battery until the time of your return.

Time the charge

Many EV users put the battery on charge overnight. While this is the ideal way to recharge your EV battery, you must track the charging time to avoid overcharging issues. Lithium-ion batteries are considered to be the most stable when they hold around 50 percent charge. This, however, is not sufficient to move your car if you have a busy day ahead with a lot of traveling. Ensure that the recharging time is not too long and you don’t have to unplug the charger and take out the car immediately. Shut off the charging at least two hours before you plan to take the car out.

These are some of the ways through which you can extend the life of your EV battery. Share with us your thoughts on our social media.

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