6 EV Battery Charging Best Practices: Extend your EV Battery Life

Electric vehicles have always been a hot topic since its introduction. With sleek designs and innovative characteristics, EVs have swiftly become the go-to choice for many drivers worldwide. Additionally, EVs are an intelligent and significant investment. 

Thus, it becomes essential to adopt the best strategies to maximize its longevity. As you know, central to an EV’s lifespan is the health of its battery. As a result, understanding and implementing EV Battery charging best practices is crucial to extend the EVs’ overall lifespan. 

If you’re unsure about the best methods to keep your EV battery healthy, you’re in the right spot. Keep reading this blog to discover 6 great ways to make your EV battery last longer and enjoy better driving.

6 top-notch EV Battery Charging Best Practices

The battery life of EV cars can be expected to be between 8 to 15 years, depending on various factors. These factors include the quality of the battery, maintenance of the vehicle, driving habits, and more. However, you can maximize and make the most out of it by following the below 6 charging practices.

Optimal Charging practices 

Your charging habits and choices are vital in keeping your EV healthy. By understanding and adapting intelligent charging strategies and some EV Battery Charging Best Practices, you can maximize your EV’s battery life. Here are a few factors you must monitor to optimize your EV performance.

1. Picking the right charging level:- EVs have three charging levels. In general, the higher the charging level, the greater the power output, and the faster it will charge your electric car. Thus, informed charging choices maximize battery longevity and efficient performance.

2. Time-of-Use (TOU) charging:- Always try charging your EV during off-peak hours when electricity demand is less. This approach saves you money and eases the load on the power grid by distributing energy consumption evenly.

3. Balanced DC fast charging use:- As earlier mentioned, avoid using fast charging whenever possible. Excessive fast charging generates more heat within the battery, negatively affecting battery health.

4. Avoid charging your EV to 100% regularly: Charging to 80-90% is generally recommended for daily use to extend battery life. Long-term storage at high or low states of charge should also be avoided.

5. Use smart charging apps:- Several smart apps allow you to schedule charging, monitor progress, etc. You can use such apps for better assistance.

Temperature management

Temperature impacts the EV battery’s performance a lot. Here are a few ways you can preserve battery health in changing climates.

1. Under the effect of temperature on battery:-  During colder weather, the battery’s capacity may temporarily decrease and affect the vehicle’s range. While on the other hand, higher temperatures can accelerate battery degradation and reduce its longevity.  By understanding these effects, you can adapt to a better charging and driving routine.

2. Use preconditioning to safeguard EV battery:- Preconditioning is an in-built feature in most EVs. With this feature, you can adjust the temperature of your battery before charging it. You can activate this feature remotely through the vehicle’s app or settings. 

3. Selective parking:-  Parking your EV in the shade helps you maintain battery health and ensure efficient performance as it helps you avoid direct exposure to sunlight.

Read> How to increase Range of EV

State of Charge(SOC) management 

State of charge management is a vital aspect of preserving your EV’s battery life. Monitoring SOC helps you to avoid extremes that can affect your battery longevity.

1. Maintaining SOC range:- Keep your battery’s state of charge between 30% to 80%. This range balances battery health and vehicle range. 

2. Avoid deep discharges and full (100%) charges:- Running the battery to extremely low levels and frequently charging 100% strain the battery and accelerate wear which reduces its lifespan. So, aim to keep SOC between recommended ranges.

3. Balancing charge levels:- Always ensure all cells in your battery pack are charged evenly. Imbalanced charge levels impact both performance and longevity.

Regular maintenance

Similar to other vehicles, EVs and their components need to get attention regularly to enhance your EV performance and overall experience. regular maintenance is an important aspect in EV Battery Charging Best Practices.

1. Monitoring Battery health:- EVs offer built-in diagnostics and special tools to keep you updated with your battery’s health. Regular checks can help you catch issues and make necessary changes.

2. Cleaning charging connectors and ports:- Clean your charging connectors and ports from dirt, debris, or corrosion regularly. A clean connection provides efficient charging and prevents damage.

3. Manufacturer-Specific recommendations:- Don’t neglect the manufacturer’s guidelines for battery maintenance. Different EVs have different requirements, so always follow their instructions first.

Avoiding extreme conditions

Negligence in essential circumstances can cost you a lot in the case of EV. Therefore, here are a few factors you must keep in mind to avoid extreme conditions.

1. Take necessary steps in extreme weather conditions:- As earlier mentioned, temperature impacts battery performance and health. Thus, minimize exposure to extreme cold and hot.

2. Avoid rapid charging in extreme temperatures:- Plan your trips and tasks earlier to avoid charging during extreme temperatures. Charging during high temperatures can worsen battery degradation.

3. Long-term storage:- If you ever plan not to use or store your EV for long-term, ensure it is at least 50% or more charged and not exposed to heat and cold.

Invest in home charging infrastructure

The best way to safeguard your EV battery is by investing in home charging infrastructure.  Here are a few points you must know before investing in one.

1. Benefits of home charging infrastructure:- Home charging offers convenience and flexibility, ensuring your EV is ready to use consistently. 

2. Options available:- You can choose home charging infrastructure per your needs and convenience from several options.

3. Factors to consider before choosing a charging solution:- When choosing a home charging station, check the cost and installation requirements, compatibility, and warranty.

Wrapping up 

You can extend EVs battery life by regular maintenance, which isn’t that difficult. You need to only improve your basic charging habits to experience efficient EV ownership. In this blog, we covered all the essential practices (EV Battery Charging Best Practices) you must know to maintain your EV battery life and have a seamless experience.

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