batteries live longer than you think

batteries live longer than you think
batteries live longer than you think

Among the fears of switching to an electric car, some consumers mention the fear of having to replace their battery. And for good reason: it is the most important, and most expensive, element of an automobile. The battery can represent up to 30%, or even 40% and more, of the purchase price of a car.

According to manufacturers, the average longevity of a battery is between 8 and 10 years. This is particularly what Renault claims on its site. But researchers at Stanford University in the United States believe that these figures are far below reality. In a study published in the journal Nature on December 9, they claim that the longevity of batteries is greater, “up to 38%”compared to current estimates.

Electric cars: Europe’s cold shower on the battery market

For what ? Because, according to these researchers, the test campaigns carried out on the aging of batteries in the laboratory do not take into account the real uses of individuals, and in particular their driving. But the method of “constant current discharge”typically used to evaluate batteries, degrades batteries much faster, they write, compared to “dynamic discharge”plus “representative of driving an electric vehicle”.

“Surprisingly, we found that dynamic discharge significantly improves the lifespan compared to constant current discharge,” the researchers point out.

Much less wear in real situations

In their work, they subjected some 92 commercial battery energy cells to different types of dynamic discharge for two years. With the idea of ​​simulating common uses and driving of vehicles. The discharge is, in fact, not the same when driving in town, in traffic jams, with a lot of acceleration and braking phases, as on the highway for several hours at 130 km/h. The researchers also simulated small and large breaks in use. They have also integrated some common features, such as regenerative braking, which allows you to recover some energy. The study’s findings are clear: the battery wears out less when it is subjected to usage and driving scenarios that are closer to reality.

Enough to erase, perhaps, the fears of certain motorists. However, driving an electric car requires acquiring certain reflexes to preserve your battery. Manufacturers advise, for example, to always maintain a charge level between 20% and 80%, and not to resort too frequently to rapid recharges – which place a lot of strain on the batteries. Or to drive as often as possible, since a battery that is rarely used wears out more quickly.

-

-

PREV The parcel delivery scam is making a comeback in France
NEXT Lion Électrique has twice benefited from subsidies for defective trucks