The average range of electric vehicle batteries exceeds 300,000 kilometers. Image: trapezoid
New measurement data shows that electric vehicle batteries last significantly longer than expected. Their longevity tends to be much better than previously predicted.
Christopher Clausen/t-online
An article by
For many potential buyers, not only the range of an electric vehicle but also the durability of energy storage is an important issue and often a source of uncertainty: How long can the battery reliably provide power?
A current study by P3, a management consultancy specializing in electric vehicles, sheds new light on the lifespan of electric vehicle batteries: they are much more durable than previously thought. The study is based on real data from more than 7,000 vehicles.
result
The P3 study first analyzed 50 vehicles in its own fleet, then used a data set from battery diagnostics company Aviloo, which has conducted more than 60,000 capacity tests. “State of Health” (SoH), an important indicator of battery condition, drops relatively quickly from 100% to around 95% on average over the first 30,000 kilometers, but then levels off. SoH mileage is 100,000 kilometers on average Still around 90%, there's hardly any apparent further significant damage since then. Even after 200,000 or 300,000 kilometers, the average SoH of electric vehicles is still 87%.
The battery ages at a slower rate (blue line) than predicted by previous laboratory data (grey line).
The blue line with the measured data shows that the battery loses capacity very slowly after 30,000 kilometers. After 300,000 kilometers, the state of health (SoH) of many batteries is well over 80%. Each point represents an electric vehicle measured in the battery study. The gray line shows previous estimates based on laboratory data. Image: p3
This is “health status”
“State of Health” (SoH) describes the health of an electric vehicle battery and shows how much capacity it still has compared to when it was new. A SoH of 100% means the battery is fully usable, while values below 80% are generally considered a sign of severe wear and tear. This information is important for estimating the range and resale value of an electric vehicle.
It's also worth noting that some vehicles (but not all) maintain a higher SoH even at higher mileage. According to P3, factors such as charging and usage behavior and the battery buffer (the difference between gross and net capacity) provided by the manufacturer have an impact on longevity.
Actual evidence shows that the actual life of batteries is often longer than previously assumed based on laboratory model predictions. However, P3 also pointed out a statistical gap: so far, there are not many vehicles with a mileage of more than 200,000 kilometers. Therefore, the significance of this field may be limited.
This means EV batteries last longer
Fast charging should only be used when truly necessary, as it causes the battery to age faster. Parking a fully charged or very low-charge electric car for long periods of time can also be a problem ternary battery (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt). If the electric vehicle is not used for a long time, the charging level is best between 30% and 80% to avoid deep discharge, which is harmful to the NMC battery.
That's why almost all manufacturers have charging settings suitable for their batteries. If activated, the charging process stops automatically when the battery reaches 80%. with more modern Lithium iron phosphate battery (Lithium Iron Phosphate) But this does not apply. It is even recommended to charge the LFP battery regularly. LFP batteries require less or no problematic raw materials such as cobalt and nickel, and are generally cheaper and more durable than NMC batteries. One drawback is that their energy density is slightly lower. In the future, most electric vehicles will use LFP batteries, so average battery life is likely to continue to increase.
Generally speaking, it's best to charge the battery shortly before driving. It is then already warmed up for the upcoming journey, which protects the chemicals in the battery. For most electric vehicles, charging times can now be easily programmed using an app.
Car manufacturers typically offer a 160,000-kilometer or eight-year warranty on batteries. Some car manufacturers now even guarantee 250,000 kilometers or ten years.
If the capacity or SoH drops below 70%, the battery can continue to be used for solar power or home storage before recycling.
Sources used:
More information about electric vehicles:
The 20 best-selling electric cars in Switzerland in 2023
1/22
The 20 best-selling electric cars in Switzerland in 2023
Rank 20: BMW i4 (658 units sold).
Source: BMW
Electric cars under test
Video: Watson
You may also be interested in:
You may like it or not. But the mother of all cryptocurrencies is here to stay. This is why knowledge about Bitcoin is now part of good common sense. Our Bitcoin Essentials gives you an overview!
