The battery that fuels your electric vehicle is essential to its operation. It enables the motors and other key components to run. It requires charging to keep the energy flowing in your vehicle. Over time, your EV battery might degrade. It may lose range and the ability to charge up robustly. The question becomes: how can you manage battery degradation, and what can you do to prepare for when it happens?
How the battery degrades depends on the age of the pack and its components. Chemical reactions within cells reduce the amount of energy they can store. That will reduce the range, which in turn will require more frequent charges. As a battery’s health declines, its reliability decreases. After 10 years, you may not be able to achieve the same range as when you first bought your EV.
There are other factors to consider. The climate is a big one. The Metroplex can reach the 100-degree Fahrenheit range during the summer. It can also get below freezing in some winters. Add the humidity we often get. These can affect battery health, leading to degradation. High mileage, vehicle age, and usage can also affect the health of the battery pack.
Considering all of this, you should monitor your battery health as you continue your EV ownership experience. You might want to watch for a 5-10 percent degradation in the first few years. That would translate into a range of up to ten percent less than when you first took delivery of your new EV.
Can you check the battery health of your EV? Yes, there are tools available that can monitor any degradation. Apps and scanners can read data from the battery to detect performance instability patterns through the management system. This is also a good tool for shopping for a used EV, helping you assess the battery’s health before you purchase.
What can you do to keep your EV’s battery pack healthy? The iSeeCars.com website suggests that you can “avoid keeping the battery at 100% or letting it sit near empty for extended periods. Limiting the use of DC fast chargers. Using a level 2 home charger as your primary charging system, while saving fast charging for long trips or occasional needs, reduces that stress.” Plus, keeping your EV out of the heat and humidity, and making sure your battery management software is up to date.
By the way, VinFast backs its battery packs with a 10-year, unlimited-mileage warranty. It is that extra peace of mind for our customers.
If you have any questions about the battery inside your vehicle, contact us at Ewing VinFast of Plano. We are here to assist you throughout your ownership experience.