The main reasons for EV batteries getting damaged include how much they’re charged and how hot they get.

Your car’s battery pack can handle some knocks, but it might still get hurt if you’re too rough with it.

A study by a company called Geotab found that most electric vehicles keep about 82% of their original battery power even after 8 years. But some things can make this go slower.

Geotab states that EVs lose about 2.3% in performance every year on average. This decrease affects both the distance you can drive and how they perform. It’s also important to note that their resale value could drop over time due to this decline.

So this study talks about some things to keep in mind when using an EV. It says that charging the car right and living in a place not too warm can help protect the battery from getting damaged.

The research was conducted to understand how people use technology.

Geotab has been studying how EV batteries get weaker since 2020. In April of this year, they looked at more than 22,700 electric cars and vans. This study included different models like Tesla, Nissan, and others. The data comes from “real-world” driving information that Geotab gets directly from the vehicles themselves.

The study says that since all the cars’ information is put together and then averaged out, one specific car might wear down more quickly or slowly compared to other cars because of its particular battery and how it was driven.

These results come when more people are looking at maybe buying an EV. Kelley Blue Book data shows that there has been an increase in owning electric vehicles over the past five years, with some dips along the way. A little less than a year ago, about 10 percent of new car sales were EVs in the US.

Last year’s federal tax incentives for electric cars stopped, so fewer people bought them. But now, new information shows that more people want EVs again.

The main causes for battery damage in EVs include:

• Overcharging or overdischarging the battery.
• Using a non-approved charger or fast charging method.
• Driving in extreme weather conditions.
• Poor maintenance and regular care.
• Battery aging due to frequent use.

Geotab finds some reasons why EV batteries might not work well. One big reason is called DC fast charging, or DCFC. This makes it easy for people to charge their EVs quickly.

Ford says getting behind the wheel quickly is good when you need it fast, like during a road trip. The DCFC can make your battery almost full in around 20 minutes to an hour.

The study found that EVs that use DCFC chargers more often lose battery power faster. People who charged with fast chargers for at least 12 percent of the time had a yearly loss rate of 2.5%, compared to 1.5% for those using it less than 12%.

In addition to how often cars are fast-charged, Geotab also mentions that the amount of power used matters. They call it “the punch” the battery gets during those times. Cars charged more frequently and with high power use (more than 12% of total charging sessions) have a higher percentage of sessions at or above 40%.

A system with over 100 kilowatts had a yearly decrease of about 3%, which was less than systems that used higher frequencies but lower power output and those using only lower frequencies.

Because more people use fast chargers now.

Besides quick-charging, other things can affect how long an EVs battery lasts. Hotter temperatures make it work harder and faster, which means more wear on the cells. But don’t worry too much – not all parts of a battery are affected by heat equally.

They use batteries with built-in ways to control how hot they get.

The study showed that EVs in warmer places, like those where it’s hot more than half the time when temperatures reach 86 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, had a 0.4% faster wear and tear compared to cooler areas.

Geotab says it’s a moderate effect and also knows its data doesn’t include very cold places.

Even though the research shows battery wear is normal, it also reminds us to look at what causes it to happen faster and try to fix those things so we can use our EVs better.

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Vocabulary Notes

Leading (adjective)
Meaning: Most important, influential, or significant in a particular situation. When discussing the causes of EV battery damage, the leading causes are the factors that have the greatest effect on the battery’s condition and performance.
Example: “What are the leading causes of EV battery damage?”
Similar words: Main, primary, principal, major, chief.
Extra example: Scientists are investigating the leading causes of air pollution in large cities.

Decline (noun)
Meaning: A gradual reduction in the amount, quality, value, or strength of something. In the context of electric vehicles, a decline in battery performance means that the battery gradually loses some of its ability to store energy and power the vehicle.
Example: “It’s also important to note that their resale value could drop over time due to this decline.”
Similar words: Decrease, reduction, deterioration, fall, drop.
Extra example: The company experienced a decline in sales because fewer customers were buying its products.

Conducted (verb)
Meaning: Organised, carried out, or performed an activity, investigation, or experiment. When researchers conduct a study, they collect and examine information to discover facts, understand a situation, or answer a particular question. “Conducted” is the past tense and past participle of the verb “conduct”.
Example: “The research was conducted to understand how people use technology.”
Similar words: Carried out, performed, undertaken, executed, organised.
Extra example: The university conducted a study to discover how sleep affects people’s ability to concentrate.

Frequent (adjective)
Meaning: Happening often or occurring many times within a particular period. In the text, frequent fast charging means using high-speed chargers regularly. This can contribute to faster battery deterioration, depending on the charging power and other conditions.
Example: “Battery aging due to frequent use.”
Similar words: Regular, repeated, recurrent, continual, common.
Extra example: Frequent interruptions can make it difficult to finish a complicated task.

Deterioration (noun)
Meaning: The process of becoming worse in condition, quality, strength, or effectiveness over time. Battery deterioration occurs when a battery gradually loses some of its ability to store and deliver energy. Heat, charging habits, and repeated use can influence how quickly this happens.
Example: “Hotter temperatures make it work harder and faster, which means more wear on the cells.”
Similar words: Degradation, decline, damage, weakening, decay.
Extra example: Regular maintenance can help prevent the deterioration of an electric car’s battery and other important components.

Story and image generated by AI.

Video generated by MoneyPrinterTurbo AI.

CC Music: Drifting at 432 Hz – Unicorn Heads.

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