Batteries in electric vehicles - how to care for them?
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How many times have you wondered why your cell phone keeps getting shorter and shorter after a few months or years after being fully charged? Electric vehicle users face similar dilemmas and, after a while, notice that the actual mileage of their vehicles is decreasing. What is responsible for this? We already explain!
Batteries in electric vehicles
To begin with, we note that in cars powered by electricity, there is no concept of a single battery. The power supply system of such a vehicle is built from Modules , and they, in turn, consist of cells , which are the smallest unit in the electricity storage system. To illustrate this, let's take a look at the following powertrain:
It is a complete battery system consisting of 12 lithium-ion modules very similar to those found in our cell phones. All this is responsible for the drive, air conditioning, electronics, etc. Until we delve into the world of physics, but focus on what interests us most - how to take care of our energy storage so that it does not decompose too quickly ... Below you will find 5 rules that an electric car user must follow.
1. Try not to charge the battery above 80%.
“Why should I charge up to 80 and not up to 100%? This is 1/5 less! "- Well, let's get back to this ill-fated physics for a moment. Remember when we said a battery is made of cells? Keep in mind that they must generate some tension ("pressure") in order for our car to move. One cell in the machine gives about 4V. Our sample car requires a 400V battery - 100%. While driving, the voltage drops, which can be seen from the computer readings ... 380V - 80%, 350V - 50%, 325V - 20%, 300V - 0%. The battery is flat, but there is voltage - why can't we continue? All "guilty" - protection from the manufacturer. Safe value here would be +/- 270 V.... In order not to risk damaging the elements, the manufacturer sets the limit at a slightly higher level - in this case, he adds another 30V. "But what does a full charge have to do with it?" Okay, that's it.
Let's look at the situation from a different angle. We drive up to the DC charging station, plug into an outlet and what happens? Up to 80% (380V), our car will charge very quickly, and then the process starts to slow down and slow down, the percentages grow very slowly. Why? In order not to damage our precious cells, the charger reduces the amperage ... In addition, many electricians use braking energy recovery system ... Battery condition 100% + recovered current = damaged installation. So don't be surprised by the car advertisements on TV that get so much attention to the magic of 80%.
2. Avoid completely discharging the battery!
We partially answered this question in the first paragraph. Under no circumstances should the batteries be completely discharged. Remember that even when our car is turned off, we have a lot of electronics on board that also needs electricity when idle. As with a recharged battery, here we can permanently damage our module. Good to have запас в 20% for peace of mind.
3. Charge with low current as often as possible.
Cells don't like too much energy - let's try to remember this when loading our machines. Sure, DC stations won't ruin your battery after a few charges, but it's best to use them when you really need to.
4. Your car does not like sudden changes in temperature - even less batteries!
Imagine that your car is parked under a cloud at night, and the temperature outside is almost -20 degrees. Batteries freeze with windows too, and trust me, they won't charge quickly. The car manufacturers' instructions tell you that it will take longer for them to warm up before unplugging the power. The situation is similar in hot summer, that is, when we are dealing with temperatures above 30 degrees - then the battery must cool down before it starts to consume electricity. The safest option is to put the car in garage or shelter her from the weather.
5. Don't download anything!
There is nothing worse than saving money on an electric car - we have to agree with that. What is this practice often used about? About choosing a charger! Recently, the market has been flooded with untested devices that lack basic protection for electrical installations. What can this lead to? Beginning with breakdown of the installation in the car - ending with home installation. Found a lot of such models on the Internet and horror! They were only a few hundred zlotys cheaper than the cheapest charger we offer - the Green Cell Wallbox. Is it profitable to risk a difference of several hundred zlotys? We don't think so. Let us remind you that it is not only about money, but also about our safety.
We hope that these 5 most important rules for using a battery in a car and their application will allow you to enjoy driving your electric vehicle for as long as possible. The correct use of this type of transport will definitely help to avoid unpleasant surprises in the future.
