(How to extend EV battery life and charge)
Electric cars offer lower running costs than equivalent petrol or diesel models. Even so, the rising cost of electricity is an incentive to make every kWh last as long as possible. Also,like all batteries, the ones in your electric vehicle (EV) will lose a small amount of health over time, but calendar aging is not the only reason that affects a battery ( considered as a long-term investment)..
While the potential range offered by electric vehicles (EVs) is improving all the time, achieving those figures in the “real world” also demands careful driving and some planning ahead.
Maximising range can also reduce the need to rely on the public charging network and saving you time and money.
Driving an EV efficiently is similar to how you would do it in a gas-powered car. While it is true that EVs present different challenges and opportunities, thankfully, there are best practices you can implement to make the most of a battery’s life, both in the long and short term.
1. PICK THE RIGHT ELECTRIC CAR FOR YOUR NEEDS
While smaller and cheaper EVs tend to be more efficient (in miles driven per kWh), pricier models have larger batteries, and usually a longer range.
Some electric cars offer a choice of different battery sizes within the same model. It might be worth paying extra upfront if a long range is important to you. These are measured in kilowatt hours (KwH) so pay attention when you see those numbers.
buying an EV with heated and cooled seats and steering wheel might help you saving your battery as it is explained here below.
Whatever your budget, compare the range offered by your preferred EV with its rivals. There can be some very surprising differences.
2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT EV SPEC
The spec or trim of your chosen EV can also affect its range. For example, larger alloy wheels have a negative impact, while accessories such as roof racks can increase drag and reduce efficiency in exactly the same way as they do on internal combustion-engined (ICE) cars.
3. UPDATE YOUR EV SOFTWARE
Depending on which EV you choose, you might gain a few extra miles of range via a remote update. Tesla, for example, added 23 miles to the range of the Model X, with no physical modifications to components.
Many EVs can also provide tips on driving more efficiently, displayed on the instrument gauge cluster or infotainment touchscreen. Some embedded vehicle navigation systems can even plan the most efficient route to your destination (avoiding significant elevation changes, for example).
4. PRE-CONDITION YOUR EV
One benefit to driving an EV is the pre-conditioning function, which helps to preserve range, as well as enhancing comfort and convenience. What it means is that your EV’s interior can be pre-heated or pre-cooled before you begin your journey.
Not only will you feel more relaxed, but the car’s driving range will be maximised and its battery life will be lengthened. The pre-conditioning function is usually activated by a smartphone app connected to the car itself, or by its infotainment system.
Just schedule in your daily departure times, and the car’s cabin will be heated or cooled to its ideal temperature. Easy! When the car is plugged in and charging (for example, overnight) it takes power from the mains electricity supply, so there is no impact on the available range. This means the car’s heating/cooling won’t have to be turned on full while driving and saves a lot of energy.
Battery also can be preconditioned (cooled or heated) automatically to make sure it’s in a good temperature range for charging, in the same way (connected apps or infotainment system).
Note that charging an EV in frigid weather can not only shorten the life span of its battery, it can actually damage it, especially if your car has been parked outside. If your car is not equipped with this function try driving around to warm up first instead of charging your vehicle from a completely cold state (in cold weather).To maximise efficiency, drivers can pre-condition their battery before driving on a cold morning. Running the engine briefly before setting off ensures the battery’s able to achieve better efficiency despite the temperature.
The ideal temperature for EVs is around 21.5C. According to one study, this would offer an expected range of 115%. More extreme conditions could impact range more severely; at temperatures above 40c and -5c, efficiency would drop by around 25%. These temperatures are extremely rare now but could become more regular if the climate crisis worsens.
A conducted real-world test by The Norwegian Automobile Federation found that winter weather can reduce an EV’s range by around 25 percent. Other organizations have found that cold weather can reduce the range by 40 or 50 percent. Though the exact percentages may vary, there’s no question that cold weather harms EV battery performance.
Manufacturers are looking to standardise automatic pre-conditioning based on programmable departure times.
5. PLAN YOUR CHARGING LOCATIONS
Planning your route before you leave could avoid any unnecessary detours to find a charger, which will deplete your range. Some Apps (like navigation Apps for example) can filter charge points by location and type, and you can also see if a charger is available in real-time to help plan charging stops. Do not forget to update your App!
Most EVs have charge points listed as part of their navigation systems and some websites can help with EV route planning, too.
6. CONSIDER ALTERNATE ROUTES
A constant speed, with little or no regeneration – where kinetic energy is harvested and sent back to charge the car’s battery on deceleration, potentially boosting range as you drive – depletes EV range faster, so you may want to take a more direct route on slower roads to maximise your potential distance.
Some navigation Apps now show alternate routes with higher efficiency.
7. AVOID SPEEDS OVER 70MPH (≈112 km/h)
Bear in mind that unlike ICE cars, EVs are less efficient at motorway speeds , EV range tends to drop more dramatically at higher speeds (especially in cold weather and extreme temperatures).
This is partly because most electric cars don’t have gears – so the faster you go, the faster the motor has to spin. So whilst you shouldn’t be exceeding 70mph anyway, the closer you do get to it, the less efficient you’ll be.
Remember! For your safety and other people safety: Always Drive at or below the speed limit!
8. BE SMOOTH (Anticipatory Driving)
Making the most of your EV’s rapid acceleration will also slash its predicted range. Leave the Ludicrous Mode well alone if you want to get the maximum mileage out of your battery. Accelerating slowly away from traffic lights, cornering gently and braking early and slow will all increase the range in your car.
The driver has the biggest influence on an electric car’s range. Anticipatory driving is important. As well as providing a longer range, it is also safer on roads, especially in winter. So keep a safe distance from the cars ahead, slow down smoothly for corners and use driver assistance systems to help you drive at an even speed.
Along with reducing the need for energy-wasteful sharp braking and acceleration, looking well ahead and driving smoothly also allows your car to maximise regenerative braking, this takes the EV’s energy from its motion and converts it into electricity, turning the electric motor into a generator while sending reverse torque to the front wheels, slowing the car down like engine braking in an ICE.
This returns up to 10% back to the battery, or as much as 30% if travelling downhill, but it also helps preserve your EV’s battery life. It’s stuff you should be doing anyway but now you’ll be rewarded in more range!
9. USE CRUISE CONTROL ON FLAT ROADS
Whether you drive an electric, petrol or diesel car, using cruise control can save on battery. Constant driving speed is highly correlated with higher fuel efficiency. This only applies to flat roads, however. On hilly roads cruise control can use more energy.
It makes sense, really. When your own foot is on the accelerator, you would naturally ease up as you come to the top of a hill, knowing that gravity will start helping you on the way down. Cruise control can’t anticipate the top of a hill like you can, and keeps the accelerator on for longer than necessary to maintain speed. Only use cruise control on relatively flat roads for best fuel economy.
10. GET TO KNOW YOUR REGENERATIVE BRAKING MODES
Electric vehicles can do something that standard gas-powered cars simply cannot: recapture energy. Using regenerative braking, the car’s electric motor(s) can slow it down and send up to 70 percent of the energy it would otherwise lose back into the battery to recharge it.
Many new EVs also offer different levels of regenerative braking. The strongest settings might allow for one-pedal driving, wherein you don’t have to touch the brake pedal at all because releasing the accelerator pedal slows the car considerably. Regenerative braking also extends the service life of your brakes, saving you money because you can drive your car further before replacing the pads.
Some cars offer a ‘B’ mode, e-Pedal, or other selectable levels of regenerative braking – allowing for one-pedal driving. Perfect this simple technique and your progress should be as efficient and stress-free as possible.
On motorways you can also coast – where the car uses no power at all and motor(s) braking is used – where possible, for example down a hill, to save even more precious energy and potentially boost your EV’s range.
11. OPTIMISE YOUR CLIMATE CONTROL
In a gas-powered vehicle, the interior’s heater draws warmth from the engine. While some EVs can use residual heat generated by the battery to condition the cabin, there is not as much of it available compared to gas cars. That’s why moderate instead of heavy use of the heater in cold weather will extend your EV’s range. The same goes for the air conditioner in warm weather. Therefore, the more you use your EV’s climate-control system, the more it affects range.
Use seat heaters and the heated steering wheel (if your car is equipped with) rather than warming the whole car. If you do need the air conditioning on, select the “driver only” setting if your EV has one.
To avoid the need to heat the car so much, especially in the beginning, it is of course ideal to park where it is not so cold: ideally in a garage or at least on the leeward side of the house. If you can also connect the car to a charger and let it not only recharge but also preheat to the desired temperature (as said before), that’s best of all.
You can also turn off the audio system and lights when not needed, although the LED lighting used on some modern EVs affects range only marginally, if at all.
12. TRAVEL LIGHT
A higher cargo weight means more energy is needed to move it. So make sure that you don’t have unnecessary items in your car that increase energy consumption.
You should also ensure your car is not carrying any unnecessary ballast (bike racks or boxes of stuff in the boot, for example).
13. CHARGE UP TO 80%
Like smartphone batteries, an EV’s battery will last longer if you prevent it from charging 100 percent or running it down to zero. To extend your EV battery’s life, remember the 80/20 rule, which means not charging past 80 percent and not letting it drop below 20 percent.
Charging becomes slower once an EV battery gets above 80 percent capacity – and charging beyond this level can cause the cells to degrade over time. Only charging to 80 percent could prolong the life of your EV and maintain its range in the longer term.
Electric cars already have installed with a battery management system that avoids them being charged and discharged at the extreme state of charge. Keeping the state of battery charge, from 0 percent to 100 percent , also improves the performance of the battery life of your vehicle. Even though a full charge will give you the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of your battery, charge enough for your daily trips (between 20 and 80 percent of course) and only full charge for long trips or when necessary.
It also saves you time, and allows other people to use the rapid charger when there is a queue of other drivers waiting.
The 80/20 rule does have exceptions, however: EV drivers should consult their owner’s manual for charging information on their specific car. Tesla, for example, recommends charging the battery in its rear-wheel-drive vehicles to 100 percent, even for daily driving.
14. AVOID USING FAST CHARGING
If your batteries are soon-to-be die out, using a fast-charging is a great convenience. However, it presses so much current into the batteries in a short period which strains your EV battery and wanes them faster. While it is hard to notice its degradation, standard charging will give you more battery life compared to fast charging.
15. CONTROL THE OPTIMAL BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE DURING LONG STORAGE
EVs that are parked or stored with an empty or full battery also degrades the battery. If you do not use your electric car often or having a long trip plan, get a timed charger, and plug it in. Leaving your vehicle at 100 percent while parked at a certain place for a long period, the battery will struggle with preserving its state of charge while you are away. One strategy is to set the charger to keep the charge just above the low mark, not filling it up to the maximum capacity, at an average charge level between 25 percent and 75 percent.
16. CHOOSE WHERE TO PARK
Exposure to the extreme heat while parking unplugged is when the frequent danger occurs. An automated temperature control system installed in your electric car will needlessly drain your batteries to keep the temperatures down for optimal efficiency. While this performance should only work when your electric vehicle is on the road using its battery, park your electric car in the shade or plug-in so that its thermal management system functions only using grid power, and make sure a stable range of temperatures during operation either.
If your car has been sat on the drive for too long, consider taking it for a short drive because it’s good for the overall health of the vehicle. If you can’t take your EV for a drive, then do the next best thing and move it on the driveway or change where you’ve parked it. This helps prevent flat spots in tyres which can affect efficiency.
17. AVOID LEAVING YOUR EV PLUGGED IN ALL THE TIME
You should try and avoid leaving your EV plugged in all the time, as this isn’t best practice for battery health. It’s fine to leave your car plugged in overnight for a full charge when you need it, but leaving your car plugged in for longer than it needs may contribute to battery degradation.
18. PROPERLY INFLATE YOUR TIRES AND MAINTAIN YOUR CAR
Under-inflated tires have been proven to decrease fuel economy; every 1 psi drop in pressure translates into a 0.4% drop in mileage, also over-inflated tyres are dangerous. Know the recommended psi for your car’s tires and check regularly and make sure that the tire pressures are all correct, just as you should for an ICE car.
Keeping up with scheduled maintenance is also essential, even though EVs typically require less servicing than conventional vehicles.
19. STREAMLINE YOUR VEHICLE
As in “How to save fuel”, enhance the aerodynamic of your car by removing the roof racks and boxes when you do not need them and closing windows and sunroof. Note that Leaving the windows and sunroof open can have a bad effect on your car’s aerodynamic (it causes a lot of wind resistance). It’s better to use the air vents for most of the year, and the airconditioner when it gets too hot. This is not a big problem when you’re driving around town (lower speed limits).
20. USE “ECO MODE”
Some electric cars have a special “Eco mode” that limits certain functions and power consumption, thus extending the range.
Sources (because no one is reinventing the wheel🛞)👇 :
https://www.kia.com/dm/discover-kia/ask/how-to-extend-ev-battery-life.html
https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/emobility/8-tips-for-getting-the-most-out-of-electric-car-batteries/
https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-take-care-electric-vehicle-battery/
https://www.smarthomecharge.co.uk/features/how-do-you-take-care-of-your-electric-car-battery/
https://www.cinch.co.uk/guides/electric-cars/how-to-take-care-of-your-electric-vehicles-battery
https://energy.drax.com/insights/maximise-ev-battery/
https://evecocharge.com/top-5-tips-to-extend-electric-car-range/
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-to-maximize-ev-range