Is charging my electric vehicle (EV) to 80 per cent a good practice?
Arguably, yes. Not only does this method potentially save you money, particularly when using public charging stations, but it may also prolong your battery’s lifespan. Alteium, an enterprise dealing with aftermarket warranties for EV batteries, advises that lithium-ion batteries, (which are the predominant type used in electric cars), function optimally when charged up to 80 per cent and not permitted to drop below ten per cent.
It is important to know that each time you charge your battery or use it to power your vehicle, it experiences a slight degradation. Once an EV battery loses between 20 and 30 per cent of its initial capacity, it is generally deemed past its prime. This is why auto manufacturers often provide warranties assuring this level of performance for the first eight years or 160,000km. However, batteries, on the whole, are so far showing more durability than initially predicted.
Moreover, there is encouraging news with lithium-iron phosphate (also referred to as LFP) batteries becoming increasingly prevalent. BYD, the leading Chinese automobile manufacturer, exclusively uses LFP batteries. Similarly, the forthcoming Ford Mustang Mach-E will sport an LFP battery, which is remarkably resilient. Although these batteries provide slightly less energy storage per weight and size, they can be charged to 100 per cent frequently without apparently causing any significant issues.
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Is it possible to repair an EV battery following an accident, or would it require replacing?
Generally, a substantial collision that influences the battery of your electric vehicle (EV), typically positioned beneath the passenger cabin and a good distance from the frontal and rearward collision structures, will inevitably render the vehicle and its battery as salvage material. Though the possibility to repair individual cells exists, insurance companies are inclined to immediately declare such a car as a total loss due to the potential risk of a thermal runway fire originating from the damaged battery. In fact, the insurer AXA is advocating for legislative changes or an addition to the independent Euro NCAP crash assessments to underline this battery susceptibility. They also suggest that automotive manufacturers incorporate additional armoured undersides, such as a titanium plate or similar high-resistance materials.
Is it feasible to change a handful of cells in the battery, or does the entire unit need to be swapped?
Yes, indeed, swapping out a few cells is a very viable option and is likely to be the primary mode of repairing most EV batteries in future days instead of complete replacement. This is a significant worry raised by AA Ireland. According to a poll of Irish motorists, they believed that EV batteries only last for 100,000km (which is incorrect) and that any decay or impairment to one section of the battery pack necessitates an immediate and comprehensive replacement of the total pack.
Jennifer Kilduff, AA’s Public Relations and Marketing Head, mentioned, “It’s disheartening to see the persistence of these misconceptions. Contemporary batteries are equipped with intricate Battery Management Systems that extend the battery lifespan to potentially several decades. When they have served their purpose in vehicles, they are employed in energy storage plans, before ultimately being recycled. It is critical to underline that an EV battery is not simply a large block of metal. It consists of numerous modules that form a battery pack. Usually, if there is a malfunction, one wouldn’t substitute the entire battery; instead, the individual modules would be replaced at a fraction of the cost.”
What is the practical range for my EV?
Unfortunately, due to the abundance of variables involved, a definitive answer is challenging to provide. Nonetheless, we will strive to offer the most helpful answer attainable.
Electric vehicles can be segregated into three sizes considering their battery capacity – those with a small capacity (roughly 50-55kWh), those with a medium capacity (approximately 60-80kWh), and those possessing a large capacity (over 90kWh). The car’s estimated reach is dependent on myriad variables, such as the individual drive style, environment of driving (urban, rural, or highway), resulting traffic, and the weather conditions. However, an approximate average range can be estimated.
For compact battery vehicles, the official marketed range is possibly around 400km, with the practical, everyday range anticipated to be approximately 300-320km, once one contemplates all the unpredictable variables. Naturally, this range will vary per individual driver.
Vehicles with medium-sized batteries likely have an advertised range of about 500km, with a practical range of circa 400-450km. As an example, the Volkswagen ID.4, the most popular EV in Ireland, utilises a 77kWh battery and operates with an actual experienced range of about 450km, versus its declared range of 535km.
For larger battery models, outcomes become less definitive due to their added weight, not only from the battery’s size but also from luxurious fixtures and fittings commonly included in these models.
These vehicles often advertise a minimum 550km range, and sometimes over 600km, but seldom deliver these numbers in practical, everyday conditions. For example, despite the BMW i7 advertising a 621km range, it was challenging to achieve more than 450km. On the other hand, the Mercedes-Benz EQS claims to have over a 750km range, and easily surpasses a 600km range in actuality. The Audi Q8 e-tron, despite its proclaimed range of 555km, typically delivers less than 400km and has shown an indicated range of about 360km on a full charge.
Choosing a saloon car over a high-rise SUV is advisable for better efficiency. For instance, Volkswagen’s sleeker ID.7 saloon, equipped with a 77kWh battery similar to the ID.4 SUV, flaunts a span of 615km, and can comfortably offer over 500km of operation under typical conditions.
Is there a risk of an Electric Vehicle (EV) battery draining in traffic congestion?
Such an incident is highly improbable, except in cases where you are stuck in a terrible traffic gridlock with your battery charge at a critically low, single-digit percentage. Studies have demonstrated that an idle EV with either the heating or air conditioning on, utilises approximately 1-1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy.
Taking into consideration that even the smallest EV batteries house roughly 45kWh of charge, and assuming you have encountered this hypothetical traffic snarl with over a 50% charge, your battery should suffice for a minimum of 15 hours before depleting completely, and potentially even longer. Put simply, you’d probably need a break for food or lavatory before the battery gives out.