Daily journeys by electric car are short
Tanguy Antoine puts forward another, more practical, argument in favor of the 80% charge. “The battery will charge very quickly from 20% to 80%. And then, it will charge much more slowly between 80% and 100%. So, on a fast charger, you will take proportionally 3, 4, 5 times longer to make the last 20 percent.”
Not fully charging your electric vehicle therefore means driving fewer kilometers. “Indeed, but daily journeys rarely exceed 50 or 60 km, objects the specialist. This with vehicles which have a range of 300 to 500 km. So, it is not a problem to charge your car between 20 and 80% On the other hand, if you plan to go on a weekend or on vacation, it is better to charge it to 100% this time.”
Electric car, the disenchantment of Belgians: 42% will never want one
Replacing an electric car battery is expensive
Manufacturers offer a warranty on their batteries. “The warranty period varies from one manufacturer to another. In general, they are guaranteed both in kilometers and in duration. But this varies greatly from one brand to another. There is the legal guarantee of 2 years, however, certain manufacturers, on the Asian market, for example, who offer up to 10 years of warranty.”
Because replacing a battery can be particularly expensive. “It’s overpriced. It can cost you 20,000 or even 30,000 euros.”
Electric cars: 120 tonnes of batteries recycled in Belgium
This is the reason why buying an electric car on the second-hand market is quite risky. “This market is not yet mature. But there are centers that specialize in battery diagnostics to allow you to know if you are buying a car with a battery in good condition or not. This type of service is developing more and more in addition.”
