WHAT AFFECTS BATTERY DEGRADATION IN ELECTRIC CARS?

Ever noticed how your smartphone’s battery loses battery life over the years?

So how much range does your electric car’s battery actually lose each year? This is an important consideration before you decide to purchase an electric car, and battery longevity has been a huge concern for many.

That’s called battery degradation, and unfortunately, it also happens in electric cars (or any other rechargeable Li-Ion Battery)! Luckily for you, most electric cars offer a multitude of measures in-built to slow down the battery degradation process.

There are many factors that affect the rate at which your battery degrades, from your charging habits, mileage, and even the technological and chemical construction of your battery cells. Let’s take a closer look at 4 common reasons why your EV’s battery might degrade faster.

FAST CHARGING

With the long charging time being a big blocker for EV adoption, the usage and installation of fast charging outlets have its obvious benefits. However, there’s a hidden drawback that many might not be aware of…

The increased thermal load that’s produced by fast charging can actually damage the internal components of an EV’s battery cell. This then leads to fewer Li-ions being able to transfer from the cathode to the anode, affecting its energy storage capabilities.

AMBIENT TEMPERATURE

Both cold and hot climates can slow down an EV’s charging rate and have a big influence on the rate of Li-battery degradation. This is because the temperature of the environment where your car is in will impact the rate and efficiency of chemical reactions inside the battery.

TIME

Typically, an electric car’s battery can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years. This is good news for Singaporean drivers as most of us drive the same car for less than 10 years due to the COE premiums.

Instead, you sure ensure that your EV’s battery is covered by warranties for added peace of mind.

However, just like all electronic devices, time and wear and tear is the biggest factor for battery degradation. This is something that we can’t control.

YOUR MILEAGE

Similarly, your EV’s battery will experience more wear on its cells when it goes through more charge cycles. Just like how your phone’s battery health diminishes over the years with every charge, the same can happen to your electric car too.

The more mileage you clock means you’ll need to charge your car more, which can accelerate battery degradation!