How To Ruin Your Electric Car's Battery - NMC Edition!

Summary

This video explains how to extend the lifespan of electric vehicle (EV) batteries, focusing on best practices for charging and storage. Key advice includes avoiding long-term storage at 100% charge, keeping the battery within a 30-80% charge range, and refraining from deep discharges. Dr. Jeff Don, a leading expert, recommends charging to 75% for daily use and only topping up to 100% when necessary for long trips. The video also explores the science behind battery degradation and emphasizes the importance of managing temperature and voltage for optimal battery health.

Takeaways

• 😀 Electric cars are popular due to lower maintenance needs, but battery replacement can be costly.
• 😀 NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) batteries are commonly used in electric vehicles, offering good range but needing careful maintenance.
• 😀 Storing your car's battery at 100% for long periods, especially in hot environments, can significantly shorten battery life.
• 😀 Battery degradation occurs faster when temperatures are high and the battery is at a higher state of charge.
• 😀 The formation of solid electrolyte interfaces (SEI) during the first charge cycle consumes valuable materials, leading to long-term capacity loss.
• 😀 Storing a battery at 30% charge in hot conditions and around 70% in cold conditions is ideal for longevity.
• 😀 Charging your electric vehicle frequently with smaller charges (e.g., 60-80%) is better for the battery than large, infrequent charges from 0-100%.
• 😀 Cracks form in battery particles as they expand and contract with deep discharge cycles, causing degradation over time.
• 😀 Depth of discharge (DOD) is crucial: using only 20% of the battery's range (e.g., 60%-80%) results in much slower degradation than using 0%-100%.
• 😀 Avoid regularly charging your electric vehicle to 100%, aiming for 75% for daily use. Charge to 100% only when necessary for long trips.

Q & A

Why do electric car batteries lose capacity over time?

Batteries lose capacity over time due to a variety of factors, primarily heat and high voltage. High temperatures accelerate degradation, while a higher state of charge (like being fully charged) speeds up the chemical reactions that consume valuable materials in the battery, leading to capacity loss.

What is the Solid Electrolyte Interface (SEI) and why is it important?

The SEI is a layer that forms on the particles in the anode and cathode of a battery during its initial charge. This layer consumes valuable materials like lithium and electrolyte, leading to a loss of capacity. Over time, the growth of this interface causes additional degradation.

How does battery temperature affect its lifespan?

Storing or operating a battery at high temperatures accelerates degradation, while cooler temperatures cause much slower degradation. Keeping a battery at high temperatures, especially when fully charged, can significantly shorten its lifespan.

Why is it not recommended to store an electric car battery at 100% for long periods?

Storing a battery at 100% for extended periods, particularly in hot environments, increases chemical reactions that degrade the battery. This higher state of charge leads to more rapid deterioration, reducing the overall lifespan of the battery.

What is the recommended state of charge for storing a battery for a long period?

For long-term storage, it's best to keep the battery at around 30% charge. This reduces degradation from both high temperature and high voltage while preventing the battery from losing significant capacity over time.

How does depth of discharge impact the longevity of a battery?

Shallow discharges (e.g., 60-40%) cause less expansion and contraction of the particles in the battery’s cathode, reducing cracking and degradation. Deeper discharges (e.g., 100-0%) cause more stress on the battery, leading to faster deterioration.

What is the difference between small charges and large, infrequent charges?

Small, frequent charges are better for the battery because they cause less strain on the internal structure, reducing degradation. In contrast, large, infrequent charges, especially from 0% to 100%, stress the battery more and accelerate wear.

What does Professor Jeff Don recommend for daily charging habits?

Professor Jeff Don recommends keeping the battery within a low range of 25% to 75% for daily use. For long trips, you can charge to 100%, but for everyday use, limiting the charge helps prolong the battery's lifespan.

What is the effect of fast charging on electric car batteries?

Fast charging typically doesn't cause significant harm to the battery because modern electric vehicles manage charging speeds to prevent over-stressing the battery. While fast charging may generate some heat, it's usually not a major concern as long as the vehicle controls the charging current properly.

Why is it better to avoid charging to 100% regularly?

Charging to 100% regularly, especially in batteries with high nickel content, can cause excessive gas formation and degradation due to a plateau in voltage at higher charge levels. Charging to 75% is ideal for preserving battery health in the long term.