You could be degrading your EV’s battery by charging it this way – Jalopnik

Although electric vehicles have continued to make progress in recent years, offering greater range and improving the technology surrounding their batteries, some owners still experience concerns about charging. While charging station infrastructure continues to improve, finding a nearby spot to plug in can be a challenge depending on where you live. For example, most available EV charging stations are located along the coast of the United States. Events like Electrify America’s charging stations shutting down at least three electric vehicles also don’t help ease concerns about this issue. As a result, EV owners – in an effort to ensure their cars are always good to use – can actually damage their batteries through poor charging habits.

While there are several types of electric vehicle batteries, differing in how you should charge them, there are some general guidelines that apply to both. For example, generally (with some exceptions) you should avoid charging the battery to 100%. Also, do not let the battery drain to 0%. And don’t leave your EV plugged in all the time – for example if the car is on a home charger all weekend, or if you go on holiday for a longer period.

Within a lithium-ion battery are cathode and anode electrodes that control the passage of both electrolytes and ions. That last 20% of full charge results in greater thermal production in those electrodes, which is the enemy in terms of battery life. The processes in the battery are much less loaded during frequent short charging cycles between 20% and 80%. Why? Because particles in the lithium-ion undergo changes in their shape as they cycle, and the greater the cycle, the greater the change – and the greater the chance of cracks developing. As soon as these particles show various cracks, the processes in the battery become less efficient.

If you leave your EV plugged in continuously, the charger will turn itself off once the battery is fully charged. However, a battery’s charge level still decreases over time while the EV is stationary, especially if the ambient temperature is high. Let’s say your car is parked outside in the hot sun for a few days and plugged into a charger. The charge level can drop below 100% several times, causing the charger to kick in and create multiple mini cycles just below full capacity. This, along with the heat built up in the battery, contributes to its deteriorating performance.

If you have an LFP battery in your EV, while the best charging methods for this are similar to NMC, there are a few differences. For example, studies have shown that LFP experiences more damage when it undergoes a smaller cycle at the high end of the charge spectrum, compared to a huge cycle from fully discharged to fully charged. In other words, an LFP battery can be fully charged every now and then without contributing as much to degradation.

Because LFP batteries are not as sensitive to large cycles, you may also be able to wait longer to charge, which could lower your battery level before addressing the problem. Regardless of which type of lithium-ion you have, the technology has continued to improve, with more safeguards against battery deterioration than ever. Here’s how long EV batteries really last compared to gasoline cars.