EV have made huge strides in range in recent years. From 2017 to 2022. the average cruising range has increased from 212 kilometers to 500 kilometers, and the cruising range is still increasing, and some models can even reach 1,000 kilometers. A fully charged cruising range refers to letting the power drop from 100% to 0%, but it is generally believed that using a power battery at the limit is not good.
How much is the best charge for EV? Will full charging damage the battery? On the other hand, is completely draining the battery bad for the battery? What's the best way to charge an electric car battery?
1. It is not recommended to fully charge the power battery
Electric vehicle batteries typically use lithium-ion cells. Like other devices using lithium batteries, such as mobile phones and laptops, charging to 100% can leave the battery in an unstable state, which can negatively affect the SOC (State of Charge) or cause catastrophic failure. When the on-board power battery is fully charged and discharged, lithium ions cannot be embedded and accumulate in the charging port to form dendrites. This substance can easily pierce the power electromagnetic diaphragm and form a short circuit, which will cause the vehicle to spontaneously ignite. Fortunately, catastrophic failures are very rare, but are much more likely to result in battery degradation. When lithium ions undergo side reactions in the electrolyte causing loss of lithium, they exit the charge-discharge cycle. This is usually due to higher temperatures generated by the stored energy when charged to ultimate capacity. Therefore, overcharging will cause irreversible changes in the structure of the positive electrode active material of the battery and the decomposition of the electrolyte, shortening the service life of the battery. Occasional charging of an electric vehicle to 100% is unlikely to cause immediate noticeable problems, as special circumstances cannot avoid fully charging the vehicle. However, if the car battery is fully charged for a long time and frequently, problems will arise.
2. Whether the displayed 100% is really fully charged
Some automakers have designed buffer protectors for EV charging to maintain a healthy SOC for as long as possible. This means that when a car's dashboard shows 100 percent charge, it's not actually reaching a limit that could affect the health of the battery. This set-up, or cushioning, mitigates battery degradation, and most automakers are likely to gravitate towards this design to keep the vehicle in the best shape possible.
3. Avoid excessive discharge
Generally speaking, continuously discharging a battery beyond 50% of its capacity will reduce the expected number of cycles of the battery. For example, charging a battery to 100% and discharging it below 50% will shorten its life, and charging it to 80% and discharging it below 30% will also shorten its life. How much does the depth of discharge DOD (Depth of Discharge) affect battery life? A battery cycled to 50% DOD will have 4 times more capacity than a battery cycled to 100% DOD. Since EV batteries are almost never really fully discharged - considering buffer protection, in reality the effect of deep discharge may be less, but still significant.
4. How to charge electric vehicles and prolong battery life
1) Pay attention to the charging time, it is recommended to use slow charging The charging methods of new energy vehicles are divided into fast charging and slow charging. Slow charging generally takes 8 to 10 hours, while fast charging generally takes half an hour to charge 80% of the power, and it can be fully charged in 2 hours. However, fast charging will use a large current and power, which will have a great impact on the battery pack. If charging too fast, it will also cause battery virtual power, which will reduce the life of the power battery over time, so it is still the first choice when time permits. Slow charging method. It should be noted that the charging time should not be too long, otherwise it will cause overcharging and cause the vehicle battery to heat up.
2) Pay attention to the power when driving and avoid deep discharge New energy vehicles will generally remind you to charge as soon as possible when the remaining power is 20% to 30%. If you continue to drive at this time, the battery will be deeply discharged, which will also shorten the battery life. Therefore, when the remaining power of the battery is low, it should be charged in time.
3) When storing for a long time, don't let the battery lose power If the vehicle is to be parked for a long time, be sure not to let the battery lose power. The battery is prone to sulfation in the state of power loss, and the lead sulfate crystals adhere to the plate, which will block the ion channel, cause insufficient charging, and reduce the battery capacity. Therefore, new energy vehicles should be fully charged when they are parked for a long time. It is recommended to charge them regularly to keep the battery in a healthy state.
Post time: Apr-12-2023