Regular fast charging can put a strain on the cell of batteries This post will cover all the aspects of “How Fast Charging Impacts Electric Vehicle Battery”.
Electric vehicles are becoming more popular day by day. You can enjoy a quiet and cozy ride in an EV. Users of EVs are greatly appreciating their driving. The overall effect of EVs is to provide the best alternative to gasoline cars. Now, electricity-powered vehicles have become more popular in India. The use of electric vehicles is a prospective way to go in the future. Renewable energy is very important as it works as a fuel for our EVs. The deep penetration of electric vehicles introduces both opportunities and challenges.
EVs positive impact on the environment is a strong step in the right direction, but some are still hesitant to adopt them because of concerns about battery longevity. The most common concern about the impact of fast charging is battery degradation. So, what is the impact of fast charging on your electric vehicle? That will be discussed in this article, but before that, we will discuss fast charging.
What Is Fast Charging and How Fast Charging Impacts Electric Vehicle Battery
Level 3 charging is also known as DC fast charging, fast charging, ultra-fast charging, or rapid charging. It is one of the fastest and most powerful charging stations. Charging stations that charge your vehicle using DC fast charging allow you to charge your vehicle in 15–20 minutes instead of hours. It is perfect to extend your driving range and is helpful for those who do not have their own charging at home. It avoids the limitations of an AC charger that requires an onboard charger to convert the power.
A DC charger requires no conversion as it directly provides power to the battery. EV owners like to run their cars on the road as they are eco-friendly and cheaper compared to fossil-fuel cars. Even then, there might be many challenges that EV owners face.
The Impact of Fast DC Charging on Electric Vehicle Batteries
As the demand for EVs increase, there is an automatic surge in the demand for rapid charging. There are some drawbacks to rapid charging, so some research is being done constantly to improve the performance of the battery. So, let us discuss the impact of fast charging on the battery’s longevity–
This DC fast charging may be appealing to the EV user, but it is said that it is not good for the longevity of the battery. Although research shows that frequent use of fast chargers deteriorates the battery, on average, it is not more than 0.1 percent compared to those vehicles where DC charging has not been used. Even then, it can be said that frequent use of fast charging negatively impacts the performance and durability of the battery.
Research on two pairs of Nissan Leafs was conducted; they were charged daily over a year; one pair was charged using an AC charger, and the other was charged completely using a DC charger. After the run of nearly 85,000 kilometers, it was noticed that the battery that was solely charged with an AC charger lost 23 percent of its capacity, whereas the pair that used DC charging lost 27 percent of its capacity.
It shows that the regular use of fast charging reduces the life of batteries compared to AC charging, but its impact seems to be less noticeable in real life than in research.
DC fast charging is a very significant part of an electric mobility future. Some lithium-ion batteries are crucial as they deteriorate when they are charged quickly, but the improvement in cathode and electrolyte will lessen the deterioration of the battery and improve its performance.
DC fast charging is a very convenient way to charge an electric vehicle, but when it comes to the life of a battery, charging presses high current into a battery for a short period of time, which may lead to the battery’s waning. When compared to fast charging, using a standard charger to charge the car for eight years will increase the battery’s life by 10%.
Other Factors Impacting the Longevity of Electric Vehicle Battery
The increasing number of calendar days is not the only reason for the degradation of batteries. Besides, there can be many reasons that impact the longevity of a battery. Battery degradation can result in reduced energy, range, and overall efficiency of the battery.
As the battery ages, the active particle that controls the capacity and output power of the battery diminishes due to chemical reactions and decreases its performance.
You should avoid using your electric vehicle if it is charged less than 20% because if the cells in the battery pack do not have the optimum balance to hold it, even if one cell goes below the threshold voltage, the entire car will stop.
Try to charge up to 80% of the battery, as it optimizes the service life of the high-voltage battery unless you are going on a long trip, because always charging your battery to 100% is not good for its health and performance, as charging speed slows down after 80% of the battery, and the long-term battery capacity is improved at 80%. For instance, if your battery takes 40 minutes to charge at 80% capacity and it would run 432 kms, then the remaining 20% charge takes 90 minutes to charge and adds 108 kms. This is the reason that charging at 80% makes sense.
As a result of continuous charging, the battery loses capacity as its electrochemical functions react. It is shown in research that the cells of a battery have limited power, which reduces their performance.
How Can I Increase the Life of My Electric Vehicle Battery?
Charging impact on EV battery can be critical. The battery is the backbone of an electric vehicle, so it must be handled carefully. The performance of electric vehicle batteries has attracted more attention from researchers and manufacturers. That is why they are focusing on or suggesting how to increase the degraded performance of a battery.
Here below are the given tips to increase the life of electric vehicle batteries, so you can enjoy a cost-effective and sustainable ride
- Moderate Temperature
- Acceleration
- Maintain A Constant Speed
- Braking
- Enjoy Riding
- Equalize The Electric Vehicle Battery
- Eco-Mode Feature
- Charge With The Original Charger
- Charge The Electric Vehicle Battery At Least After 30 Minutes Of Riding
Now please look into the above points in detail:
1. Moderate Temperature
If you expose your car to extreme heat in parking while your car is not plugged in, it can be dangerous for your vehicle. An automated temperature-controlled system is already installed in electric vehicles; it helps to control the temperature and will protect your batteries from being drained, but this function works only when your car is on the road and using its battery.
You should park your electric car in the shade to get it charged so that its thermal management system works properly to handle the extreme temperature otherwise charging impact on EV battery can be critical. Keeping your vehicle at a moderate temperature can extend the life of the battery. A battery management system, which manages the features of the battery and helps in keeping it safe and reliable, is already installed in electric cars to prevent the electric vehicle from being charged or discharged at an extreme state of charging. It also improves the battery life of your vehicle.
2. Acceleration
Aggressive acceleration can be harmful for the longevity of your battery as it adds stress to the engine and burns fuel more quickly. Hard acceleration can even cause customers to fall out of their seats, so the driver should take care of it. Accelerating moderately can be a good idea to keep your car’s battery health and safety intact.
3. Maintain A Constant Speed
Whenever you are driving your EV, you are expected not to dive fast because if you do, your car must work to overcome the wind resistance, which slows down the performance of the battery. If you want to maintain the efficiency of your electric vehicle, you must maintain a constant speed.
4. Electric Vehicle Braking
While driving your electric car, when you use the brake to slow down the speed, electric cars generate regenerative energy, and sudden breaks burn off the kinetic energy, so no regenerative energy occurs. It leads to wasting energy and degrading the battery’s life. To avoid it, do not press the brakes too hard. To maximize the life of your battery, you need to take care of acceleration, speed, and braking.
5. Enjoy Riding
Do not let your vehicle stand for several days, weeks, or months, as if the battery has nothing to charge, it dies. Try to use your electric vehicle regularly. Even a small movement with the car can save battery life. If you are going out, try to avoid rough terrain, if possible, as it puts pressure on the battery and leads to degradation. A smooth road elevates the efficiency of the battery.
6. Equalize the Electric Vehicle Battery
If you have charged your car 4-5 times with a DC charger, then once you charge it with an AC charger, slow charging will help to equalize the battery and improve the efficiency of your battery.
7. Eco-Mode Feature
The additional eco-mode feature is very helpful to increase the longevity of batteries as it is used to save energy. This eco mode is useful when you are driving a long route, as it increases the range of your EV.
8. Charge with The Original Charger
If you want to extend the life of a battery, you should always use the original charger to charge it. A third-party charger is cheaper and easily available in the market, but its usage cannot be a good option for the lifespan of the battery.
9. Charge the Battery at least after 30 minutes of Riding
While the EV is running and the battery is being used, it gets extremely hot. So, charging immediately after the ride can be dangerous for the battery because it does not let the battery cool down. Try to charge at least after 30 minutes of riding to extend the life of battery.
You may also read:
10 Recycling Lithium-ion Battery Companies in India
Recycling of Electric Vehicle Batteries
12 Effective Tips for the Maintenance of Electric Vehicle Batteries
Batteries For Electric Vehicles
Top 10 EV Battery Manufacturers In India
EV Battery Swapping: A leading technology
Conclusion
To make EVs more efficient, it is important to calculate their battery life and know their battery range. Please follow the above tips to increase the life of electric vehicle batteries. The vehicle’s range and battery life depend on your driving style. Smooth driving extends the longevity of the battery, increasing its overall performance and lifespan.
