Maximize Your Electric Vehicle’s Lithium-ion Battery Life

Is a 6-pack body compatible with a weak heart? – That’s a no-brainer! Obviously, one who aims for a 6-pack body will do everything to maximize the functioning of his heart!

It’s the same with Electric Vehicles (EVs). What gives life to these icons of hope, are the lithium-ion batteries that power EVs, making them a winning option. Indeed, the heart of the EV is its battery pack, its vital energy reservoir – storing electrical energy and providing the indispensable power that propels the vehicle's electric motor and other components. An EV with the most iconic exteriors and advanced features cannot move an inch without a good battery pack. As with the heart, it’s important to take utmost care of the EV’s lithium-ion battery pack which silently works behind the scenes, to take us places.

Getting to the heart of the matter, let’s explore what the average life of an EV’s lithium-ion battery pack is, and how we can maximize it.

By and large EV lithium-ion batteries come with a warranty of 8 years or 100,000 miles. However, most batteries clock around 200,000 miles, and the latest innovation has presented record breaking newer batteries that last for almost 500,000 miles! EV manufacturers too are going all out to make green energy the future’s new normal. A case in point is Hyundai which offers a lifetime battery warranty on its Kona Electric SUV.

Whatever the warranty offered, there are certain dos and don’ts that can help your battery go those extra miles and accompany you for extended timeframes – which is what this blog will help explore.

Tips for Maximizing the Life of Your EV’s Lithium-ion Battery

1. Slow and Steady Wins the EV Battery Life Race

Acceleration, sudden deceleration, and braking are all energy guzzlers, discharging your battery quickly. Hence, ideally avoid accelerating without reason, and instead maintain moderate acceleration, driving at a slow and steady pace. This will reduce incidents requiring abrupt deceleration, and braking too. Smooth driving extends the battery’s life as it doesn’t put an unnecessary load on it. Avoiding slopes and fast-paced highways also help to preserve your battery and extend its life. Follow the golden rule of being consistently conscious of how and where you drive – and your battery will reward you.

2. Reduce/Avoid Rapid Charging

In today’s 2-minute world, the temptation to use the fastest charging mode is high. While using a DC connector charger with high limits can get your EV ready to roll in minutes, it is a recipe for premature capacity loss and micro-damage to battery material. AC chargers are a safer bet as they charge slowly and therefore do not put a strain on your battery. Reports state that in an 8-year horizon, standard charging contributes around 10% more battery life as compared to rapid charging. Here’s a tip for long road trips: Preferably use an AC charger to charge overnight at home, in case AC charging stations are not easily available en route – especially if you have a penchant for outstation driving.

3. Extreme Temperatures Must be Avoided

The EV battery’s thermal management system is geared to maintain the battery temperature for optimum efficiency. However, this facility should be reserved for unavoidable driving in extreme temperatures. When the EV is being charged or parked, it should ideally be kept in a shady spot in summers, and parked inside a garage in cold weather. This care will help extend the life of your battery, as it will avoid unnecessary activation of the thermal management system which causes the battery to drain, while it does its part to regulate the temperature. Hence, avoiding exposure to extreme heat or cold will pay dividends in terms of extended battery life. If you have to park in extreme temperatures, try to keep the EV plugged in, as it then uses the grid rather than the battery power for regulating temperature.

4. Stay Clear of Deep Discharging (Dipping Below 20%)

Fully draining your car battery is a prescription for being stranded on the road and hence this is something that everyone will most definitely avoid. However, when it comes to your EV’s lithium-ion battery, the right prescription recommends that you should not let it go below 20% – which is referred to as deep discharging. This must be avoided as it damages the battery. Hence be good to your battery and charge it before it dips below the magic number. Remember, it’s better to keep your EV battery topped up, rather than wait till it requires charging, and run the possibility of going below 20%, in case of an unexpected trip.

5. Don’t Overcharge the Battery

A 100% charge may be good for maximizing operating time, but is detrimental to your battery’s long-term interest. Ideally charge up-to 80%, as going beyond this will cause a minor reduction in the battery capacity. Frequently doing this will cumulatively reduce the battery’s lifespan and negatively impact how long you can drive. Recurrent overnight charging is also to be avoided for the same reason. It's best to stay within the magic numbers: 20 - 80%, especially if you have an older EV. Maintaining this range will leave place for storing energy from regenerative braking. Your EV’s on-board computer or your EV charger will generally allow you to lower the maximum charging limit. Modern EVs are equipped with built-in systems that slow down the charge as it nears 100%, to avoid battery damage. Refer to the EV Manual to know about the existence or absence of this facility.

6. Briefly Cool your Battery Before Charging

Another useful tip is to let the battery cool down before charging. Taking a break for a couple of minutes after the vehicle has stopped running, will put less strain on the battery, while it transitions from powering mode to charging mode. This in turn will extend the life of the electric vehicle’s battery.

7. Optimize the Battery Charge Status during Extended Parking

When an EV is parked for a long time at 100% charge, the battery struggles to sustain its state of charge. An empty or full battery during extended parking/ storage periods will negatively impact its lifespan. In such cases it’s advisable to set the charger to stay just within the magic numbers, maintaining an average charge level between 25% and 75%. This approach of maintaining the charge just above the lower mark, and not charging it to the maximum during extended parking periods, will help enhance the battery’s lifespan. Here’s a tip if your EV is infrequently used, or if a vacation is on the cards: Make use of a timed charger, and keep it plugged in. More on this in the next point on stowage care.A word of caution: Check your EV Manual as few EVs dissuade constant plug in.

8. Strategize Your Long-term Stowage

If you are going away for a long time and leaving your EV unused, ensure that it is parked in a cool place, yet protected from extreme cold; and has access to a power outlet. Its best to follow the manufacturer’s storage recommendations, as they differ for different EVs. Planning ahead will help maintain the battery life during stowage. The stowage thumb rule is to charge your EV battery when it gets below a 20% charge, or every 3 months – whichever is earlier. It would be great if the charge level can be checked every month. Review what facilities your EV offers, as some come with an app that permits you to check the remaining charge, and instruct your vehicle to add additional charge. On-board computers of many EVs allow you to set the desired charge levels; and some come with a “storage mode” which further facilitates this care.

9. Follow the EV’s Charging, Operating and Repair/Replacement Guidelines

The EV Manual is the best guide to ensure safety of the vehicle and optimal performance of the battery pack. Observing the manufacturer’s instructions w.r.t charging, operating, and repairs, will contribute to a longer battery lifespan. Using the storage setting to maintain a lower level of charge can optimize the life of individual battery cells, promoting economic future replacement, as replacing a few individual weak cells often restores the battery to its normal state. This eliminates the comparatively costlier need of replacing the entire battery. It’s important to note that most EVs do not require immediate battery replacement, as the original batteries generally provide a mileage of around 2,00,000 miles which translates to 10 - 12 years, depending on how often it is used.

10. Consistently Incorporate Software Updates

With activists and governments rooting for green energy, there is a flurry of research directed to this cause, resulting in technology giving us better and more economical ways to charge EVs. A single charge of the current lithium-ion batteries can power the electric vehicle for hundreds of miles… and improvements in this direction continue. It’s therefore important to keep in touch with the EV’s latest software updates and incorporate them, to get the benefit of cutting-edge technology, and enhance your battery’s performance.

So, there it is – 10 ways in which to ensure that your battery does not let you down, but keeps you company way beyond its warranty. Armed with this knowledge, it is hoped that the performance and lifespan of many EV batteries will be extended, because after all, EVs are the beacons of light in a world struggling to counter the challenges of climate change.

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