This video addresses the issue of electric vehicle (EV) battery degradation and offers tips on how to prevent it. It explains the factors that contribute to battery degradation, such as high temperatures and frequent fast charging, and provides practical advice on how to prolong battery life. The video also discusses the importance of proper battery maintenance.
The battery pack in your electric vehicle is made to last the lifetime of the vehicle. However, EV batteries may slowly lose how much energy they can store over time. This is called battery degradation. It can result in reduced energy capacity and therefore reduced range. On the bright side, modern EV batteries can last more than 10 years, and most have a warranty of at least 8. The average EV owner will sell their car long before they need to replace the battery. There are a number of steps you can take to help extend the life of your EV battery. Try to avoid operating your EV below a 20% charge. If an EV battery is repeatedly driven down close to 0 and is routinely charged from low to full, it can worsen battery degradation. It's also best to only charge up to 80% unless you're taking a long trip. Always charging to 100% is not good for lithium-ion batteries. Continued exposure to extreme temperatures is hard on batteries. Park your car in the shade on hot days and in the garage when it's cold. Moderate acceleration is key to extending battery life. Smooth, even acceleration will avoid depleting the battery quickly. Some automakers suggest limiting Level 3 DC fast charging to avoid pushing so much electricity into the battery pack all at once. Treat Level 3 charging like junk food for your car. Doing these things will extend the usable life of your battery and will help it keep its maximum capacity. If you're faced with replacing a battery on an out-of-warranty car, there's no need to panic. The cost of a new battery pack continues to decline. Some technicians can even install an approved used battery pack at a lower cost. Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to get recommendations for other useful content on green cars, and how they can work best for you.