Battling Low-batt — Extending the life of your EV batteries
The common practice of fully charging (up to 100 percent) EV batteries and then fully discharging (draining the battery to almost zero charge) them, is not advisable because it could easily damage the batteries
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF AYALA LAND from setting up chargers in Ayala Malls and to all its offices, estates, hotels and industrial centers, Ayala Land, last year, successfully held the largest roll out of fast-charging stations for EVs in the country.
Sad truth: Lithium batteries, which are used in mobile phones, laptops, and electric vehicles, among other things, will slowly degrade and have a shorter capacity and range.
While the deterioration of these batteries will certainly occur after a period of time, there are things that one can do to ensure that they last longer.
The common practice of fully charging (up to 100 percent) EV batteries and then fully discharging (draining the battery to almost zero charge) them, is not advisable because it could easily damage the batteries.
However, new EV owners need not worry that their vehicle would suffer the same fate as their old mobile phones.
Since "cells" in a typical EV battery are able to retain capacity even after driving hundreds of thousands of kilometers, this means the battery life of an EV could last between 10 and 20 years, depending on the EV one owns.
With modern EVs, you can charge and drive again and again without worrying about your batteries getting damaged in a short span of time.
Like engines in conventional gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles, EV batteries are designed to last long but will eventually wear out. It pays to protect your investment and bolster its resale value by avoiding the mistakes EV owners usually make.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF AUDI PHL TYPICALLY, EVs require less maintenance than their regular counterparts.
Maintain charging between 20 and 80 percent
It's recommended to never let your EV run out of juice or under 20 percent. Now, if needed, you can charge it past 80 percent.
Getting to an 80 percent charge is usually a range that's enough for your daily trips, so you might want to consider changing the settings on your car or charger to keep the battery within the 20-80 percent sweet spot.
