Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, and new innovative battery technologies are being developed by companies. University of Michigan researchers recently compiled a list from different manufacturers on the best way for EV owners to care for their batteries.
Of course, the team points out and recommends that the vehicle owner read the owner’s manual, as not all EVs are the same. They do have some things in common, and the number one thing for EV owners to be aware of is not to let the battery discharge to 0%.
Steve Christensen, the executive director of the Responsible Battery Coalition, recently spoke to Electrek about battery degradation:
Letting the battery discharge to 0% seems to have an incredibly negative impact on battery life, largely due to the additional stress this places on cathode materials.
The researchers’ paper, titled “Strategies to Limit Degradation and Maximize Li-ion Battery Service Lifetime”, also looks at batteries used in electronics. Battery degradation shows harmful effects no matter what device they are being used in. This has harmful effects not only on the environment but financially as well, the paper points out:
Battery degradation causes premature replacement or product retirement, resulting in environmental burdens from producing and processing new battery materials, as well as early end-of-life burdens. It also imposes a significant cost on the user, as batteries can contribute to over 25% of the product cost for consumer electronics, over 35% for electric vehicles, and over 50% for power tools.
A few highlights for EV battery care include:
- Plugging the vehicle in anytime it gets too hot, this will allow the battery cooling system to work.
- Try not to overuse fast chargers, as some manufacturers warn against this, saying this can also lead to accelerated battery degradation.
- In cold climates, they recommend plugging the vehicle in when temperatures get below 0o C or 32oF to allow the heating system to keep the battery warm.
- In hot climates, they advised not to keep your EV parked in the hot sun for extended periods without being plugged in.
The main thing to take away for EV owners is, in extreme heat or cold, it’s better to have the vehicle plugged in. By doing so, you will allow the charging system to properly monitor the battery and cool or heat the battery accordingly.
New technologies in lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) and lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) are going to help accelerate the EV battery market, which is currently growing at an above-average rate. EV battery technology is expected to grow by 38% within the next 5 years.
Modular EV batteries are also being developed, that will allow for drivers to stop off at special charging stations and swap out batteries within a matter of seconds. This will help take some of the responsibility off of EV owners as they can easily swap out batteries.
Automakers will be ramping up their competition with one another to create batteries with extended ranges. Advancements in technologies will also lead to a drop in prices, these are both advantages to EV customers.
As with all cars, they require proper care and maintenance. Driving an EV cuts down on carbon emissions and helps the environment. If you own an EV be sure to pay attention to the elements and proper care.
