Do you want to know exactly how long the car battery of an electric car lasts? Then look no further, because we have the answer ready for you! There is no single clear and sensible answer to the question 'how long does the car battery of an electric car last'. It has to do with a huge number of factors, such as;
- The way of loading
- The brand of the battery
- The conditions in which the driving took place
- Any problems and/or teething problems in the car or car battery \
- Lack of knowledge of the total life cycle of newer batteries, resulting in no good answer to the question
- And many other factors that can play a major role
What we have known for years; what actually affects the lifespan of the 12v car battery?
When it comes to the lifespan of a car battery, it usually comes down to short journeys very quickly and how incredibly damaging this is to the battery. If you only and constantly make very short journeys with the car, this has a negative effect on the lifespan of the battery because it is never fully charged. The maximum charging capacity therefore continues to decrease, which simply means that the lifespan of the car battery also decreases.
Does this also apply to the battery of the electric car?
No, because it is not dependent on the charges while driving. Unless it concerns the hybrid models that cannot be charged with the plug. Another point is that the decrease in lifespan mainly applies to lead batteries and that are actually very few to be found in hybrid and electric cars.
What is important for the lifespan of the car battery?
You can think of the type of battery it is. The lead battery has the shortest lifespan. It also has to do with maintenance. If the poles and clamps are cleaned regularly (think annually), this will promote the lifespan of the battery.
How long can a car stand still without battery damage or a flat battery?
How long a car can stand still without this having negative consequences for the battery, that again depends on a number of factors. Fortunately, there are a number of tricks to prevent problems with the battery. We will give you three tips right away so that you know what to think about.
The first point is to disconnect the battery terminals when you leave the car stationary for a long time. Do not do this with an electric car; the voltage is considerably higher there. When the battery is no longer connected to the car itself, the battery cannot drain as quickly. Another way to prevent draining is to connect a trickle charger. However, this is only possible if there is a power outlet nearby. In a public parking lot or a parking garage, this is often not an option.
A third tip has to do with the situation where you come back to the car and it has been standing still for months. The best thing to do then is to start the car carefully. So no air conditioning, lights and the whole shebang on, but just start it slowly so that with a bit of luck the car can even start on very little battery voltage. Starting the car uses the most of the battery. Even with cars that are not electric cars.
How to extend the life of your battery
The average minimum lifespan of a 12v car battery is about 3 to 4 years. For many lead batteries, however, a lifespan of 8 years is not unthinkable. When it comes to the car battery of an electric car, much less is known about the lifespan. This is mainly due to the fact that the newer, more developed batteries have actually only been in use for a few years. We can see this clearly in, for example, the newer car batteries of the Renaults. The estimated lifespan has simply been set at eight years, or 160,000 kilometers. However, there is a very big chance that this will be exceeded.
Only in about five to ten years will we really be able to say what the lifespan of an electric car battery is, because then we will have a large number of test results and figures from people who have actually driven with the battery.
