Maximizing Electric Car Battery Lifespan: Best Practices for Longevity

Electric cars are all the rage these days, and for good reason. They require less maintenance and are better for the environment. But there's one thing that's still a major concern: the cost of replacing the battery. It's a massive expense that no one wants to deal with. Luckily, there are some practices you can follow to make your battery last longer. In this video from Engineering Explained, they dive into the best and worst practices for extending the life of your electric car battery.

First off, don't store your car's battery at 100% charge for long periods, especially in hot weather. The higher the temperature and voltage, the quicker your battery will degrade. It's all about the reactions happening at the microscopic level. There's this thing called the solid electrolyte interface formation that occurs on the particles in the anode and cathode. Basically, it consumes useful materials from the battery, leading to a loss of capacity. So, avoid storing your car in the scorching sun for months on end if you want your battery to last.

Next, don't wait until your battery is low to recharge it. It's better to keep your battery at a relatively low depth of discharge and charge it frequently with small charges. This helps prevent cracking within the cathode particles, which can lead to battery degradation. The growth and contraction of these particles are directly related to the depth of discharge. So, using smaller battery ranges means less cracking and a longer-lasting battery. It's like taking care of your car's battery on a microscopic level.

Lastly, don't regularly charge your battery to 100%. This is especially important if your battery has a higher nickel content. Charging to 100% can cause a plateau in the voltage curve, which leads to a volumetric change and micro cracking. Even if you have a single crystal structure in your battery, this plateau can still cause gas formation and degradation. So, it's best to charge your battery to around 75% for daily use and only charge to 100% when you really need that extra range. It's all about finding the right balance to keep your battery in top shape.

In conclusion, taking care of your electric car battery is crucial if you want it to last a long time. Following these best practices, like avoiding storing at 100% charge, charging frequently with small charges, and not regularly charging to 100%, will help extend the life of your battery. It's all about understanding the microscopic reactions happening within the battery and taking the necessary steps to mitigate degradation. So, go ahead and enjoy the benefits of electric cars while ensuring your battery stays strong for years to come.

Watch How To Ruin Your Electric Car's Battery - 3 Common Mistakes on Youtube

Viewer Reactions for How To Ruin Your Electric Car's Battery - 3 Common Mistakes

User in Chile has 800 electrical buses with minimal degradation in battery capacity
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Difficulty in getting consumers to follow best practices for battery health
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Comparison of battery abuse to late or never done oil changes
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