Get the most out of your electric vehicle battery

By Adam Hall, director of energy services at Drax

We’re on the road to a greener future, and EVs are a sizeable chunk of the journey. Widespread adoption across the UK is imminent, as we make quick and efficient progress on the transition away from petrol and diesel cars towards electric. Behind the EVolution are the fleet operators, who have been leading the charge since the early days.

Until now, concerns around range has prevented many fleet managers from making the switch. However, vehicle manufacturers have been visibly working to address this. As a result, most EV models today have a range over and above the average fleet driver’s needs. And with over 25,000 devices in the UK, drivers should never be too far from their next charge.

There have also been questions about battery life. But the lifespan of EVs isn’t something fleet managers need to worry about. Most EVs even have an 8–10-year or 100,000-mile warranty. That’s more than average for a traditional petrol or diesel powered car.

That said, looking after an EV is slightly different to looking after a petrol or diesel car. So, here are a few top tips on how fleet managers can maximise their fleet’s charge efficiency and help drivers to take extra care of their vehicle batteries.

• Keep an eye on the weather forecast

Much like traditional car engines, some climate conditions are more optimum than others for getting maximum efficiency.

Batteries expend more energy in cold weather, for example, with more resources going to warming up the battery and the passenger cabin. While this won’t stop an EV performing well in most weather conditions, drivers might notice a range reduction in extremely cold temperatures.

One study found that the ideal temperature for driving was 21.5 C, with cars achieving 115% of expected range. At extreme temperatures, drivers will notice an impact on total range – dropping to 75% of expected range, on average, at temperatures above 40 C and below -5 C, which isn’t something we see too often in the UK.

To maximise efficiency, drivers should try to pre-condition their EV battery before driving on a cold morning. By running the motor for a short amount of time before starting their journey, they’ll ensure the battery and EV are running efficiently despite the surrounding air temperature.

As EV technology advances, more cars are likely to include automatic pre-conditioning based on pre-programmed set-off times.

For passenger warmth, a top tip is to forgo heating fans and instead default to using heated seats or steering wheels instead. This directly warms the driver and any passengers, which is far more efficient than trying to heat the whole passenger cabin.

• Try to keep battery charge between 20% and 80%

Think of an EV battery like a phone battery. There are certain things you can do to prolong a phone’s battery life, like not letting it run out of battery or leaving it on charge overnight.

The battery in an EV works in a similar way, although it much more advanced power management systems to prevent degradation. Drivers should make sure they have somewhere between 20% and 80% charge most of the time and resist the urge to charge to 100%, unless they’re heading on a long road trip.

• Rapid chargers aren’t always the answer

While many drivers will want to charge their vehicles as quickly as possible, it’s worth taking the time to slow down when possible. Some fleet operators require their drivers to use rapid chargers due to businesses needs and availability of infrastructure. However, in many cases rapid chargers are faster than what is realistically needed.

Therefore, it’s worth exploring alternative options. A ‘fast’ charger which runs from between 7 and 22kW is often more than enough, and that’s what drivers will likely have at home.

• Plan routes ahead of time

Drivers who take long trips on A-roads and motorways should check ahead for alternative routes, providing this doesn’t have a negative impact on operational efficiency. Driving regularly at high speeds for long durations can use larger amounts of energy, requiring more frequent charging. Taking slower roads, where possible, can help reduce unnecessary load on the battery.

• Avoid harsh braking

Regenerative braking is a key feature in EVs, taking kinetic energy from the motion of the car and converting it into electricity. Drivers should relax their feet on the accelerator rather than breaking. The electric motor will act as a generator, creating reverse torque to the front wheels, slowing the car down. Using this technique not only reduces the load on the battery in an EV, but drivers can also save energy by recapturing up to 10% in normal conditions and 30% going downhill.

It’s a good idea not to rush around, too – regular, harsh acceleration could take a toll on an EV’s range and battery health, in the same way it will deplete fuel efficiency in petrol or diesel-powered vehicles

EV batteries have a longer lifespan than you think

Generally speaking, well managed EV batteries don’t deteriorate quickly and should last around 10-20 years. That’s a lot longer than a petrol or diesel car battery, and this’ll only increase as technology evolves.

After that, EV batteries can actually be broken down into smaller cells and re-used in a second life, such as for renewable energy storage in homes and businesses.

The battery life extends far beyond the life of the vehicle, so give it the extra care it deserves, and you’ll reap the rewards.

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