How to Extend EV Battery Life

By Bumblebee Batteries

When you drive an electric vehicle (EV), you shouldn’t have too much to worry about, especially considering that you don’t have to concern yourself with escalating gas prices. However, one thing that you should be conscious of is battery degradation. You’ve probably dealt with it before if you have a smartphone—after a while, your battery will start to die quicker and quicker. The same can happen with your electric vehicle’s battery. You’ll eventually need to invest in a replacement, but why rush into it when there are steps you can take to extend your car’s battery life? Here’s how you can do so:

Be Smart About Where You Park Your Electric Vehicle

Electric car batteries don’t handle extreme temperatures well, both when in use and in storage, so keep that in mind. On hot days, parking your vehicle in the shade is always a wise idea. If you live in an area where you experience extreme cold, avoid parking unplugged in those temperatures. When plugged in, though, the battery’s thermal management system can maintain a more ideal temperature for the battery.

Monitor Your Charge & Usage

You won’t want to plug your car in all night, every night. Overcharging can speed up the battery degradation process. Say your daily commute uses up 20% of the battery’s charge. Plugging it in every night will do more harm than good in the long run because it’s actually better for your battery to use the middle of its charge (for example, from 80% to 60%) than it is to use the top of its charge so often. At the same time, monitoring your battery’s charge is very important, as letting it get too low can have negative effects, especially if you leave it unplugged long enough that it self-discharges to 0%.

Don’t Fast-Charge Your Vehicle… And Avoid Quickly Discharging It Too

Quick-charging your electric car from time to time is OK, but don’t get into the habit of it. Doing so can have a negative effect on your battery life, and the less you do so, the longer you can expect your battery to last. Discharging quickly can be just as problematic. So, if you avoid doing that as well, that will help with long-term battery life.

If you want more tips on prolonging EV battery life or you need to replace your current battery, contact Bumblebee Batteries today to speak with one of our experts.