More and more people are talking about electric vehicles. Modern and ecological, it seems to solve many problems caused by fuel cars. But is it really as reliable as a thermal car? What is the Electric Car Batteries’ life?

An electric car battery is in no way comparable with the traditional rectangular block. the classic “car battery”, which is found attached to heat engines.

The lifespan of an electric car engine should not be confused with that of the battery that powers it. The engine of an electric car enjoys immense theoretical longevity. The issue of lifespan concerns, above all, the lithium-ion battery itself.
Battery life is not related to kilometers driven, but to charge/discharge cycles.

For example, the average Electric Car battery life is 1,000 to 1,500 charge cycles. This works out to around 200,000 to 500,000 km, depending on how the car is used. For a vehicle traveling 20,000 km per year, the battery can therefore last between 10 and 15 years.

The average lifespan of Electric Car Batteries is also impacted by natural aging, as well as by conditions of use, particularly thermal.

Once they reach the end of their life, we generally recycle the batteries of electric cars in order to limit their ecological impact.

The batteries are generally guaranteed by the manufacturer for a period of 8 years, or until an autonomy of 75% is reached.

How to optimize the battery life of an electric car when recharging?

Depending on how you charge your car!
A battery that charges or discharges too often to the end wears out more quickly … In order to optimize the battery life of your electric car:

it is recommended to keep it between 20% and 80% of the charge as often as possible.

Be sure to let your battery drain completely and then fill up to 100% about once a year.

In this way, the BMS (“Battery Management System”, which calculates the charge level) will better understand how your battery is functioning.

It is also advisable to avoid rapid recharging in hot weather, especially on entry-level models whose batteries are not always equipped with a liquid cooling system (in this case, the charge will freeze or be reduced. ).

But that’s no reason not to take care of an electric car’s battery. What conditions can affect the life and quality of your battery?

>> high temperatures are bad for an EV battery. From 30 degrees, its performance decreases. This phenomenon is temporary in nature. But when the car has to withstand high temperatures for a long time, the battery life might suffer.
 >> Accelerating or braking too suddenly is also to be avoided. This action causes local overheating in the battery.
>> Too many quick recharges should be avoided. High power (needed for fast charging of your battery) also results in high temperatures.
>> Frequent use of your electric car in mountainous areas can also lead to faster EV battery wear.

What factors affect battery life?

The climate

The temperature has a strong influence on a lithium-ion battery, but it is important to distinguish between long-term battery wear (its lifespan) and short-term battery performance (especially its battery life). loading time).

Heat can have a negative effect on battery life in the long run, although it does not affect battery performance. Conversely, extreme cold can impact the short-term performance of electric car batteries.

But it will have absolutely no impact on the durability of the battery, meaning that even frequent extreme cold will not decrease its life.

Extended parking

Other parameters come into play. This one makes sense, but it should not be forgotten: the battery wears out … when you use it!

Secondly, prolonged immobilization of the electric car, when the temperature is high and/or when the battery is full, can also have a negative impact on durability.

The charging frequency

The low amplitude and the sustained frequency of recharging are factors not to be overlooked either. Seeking to maintain a maximum charge level by continually connecting the car to the terminal for short charges will have a deteriorating effect in the long term.

Finally, the battery degrades when it heats up too often, which is the case with frequent recharging on the most powerful ultra-fast charging stations.
All these parameters can nevertheless be mastered with the right reflexes of use.

Battery capacity (usable)

What is the battery capacity of an electric car? If we think logically, the only answer may be 100%. But this is not the case, and there are several reasons for this. For example, it is not recommended to fully discharge or charge a lithium-ion battery. The chemical composition of the battery has something to do with it.

To protect the battery and extend its life, a buffer has been integrated. Depending on the battery model, this buffer can vary between 5 and 30% of the total capacity. In principle, therefore, you will never be able to completely drain the battery of an electric car.

How long does it take to recharge an electric car battery?

Charging time for the car can vary from 20 min to around eight hours. depending on the type of charging station (fast charger, public or home charging point).

In addition, the capacity of your battery decreases as the recharging cycles are completed. which also defines the life of the battery.