The EV Battery Research That Everyone is Referencing? You Completely Misinterpreted It | Carscoops

      Battery specialists have warned electric vehicle drivers against harming their batteries due to a misinterpretation of a recent study.

      A new scientific investigation indicated that 'dynamic discharging' can enhance battery lifespan. However, some individuals mistakenly inferred that accelerated driving would prolong battery life.

      Experts from Aviloo assert that aggressive driving will inevitably lead to faster battery degradation.

      The latest research has ignited a spirited discussion about the optimal care for EV batteries, particularly among those aiming to extend their lifespan. Given the still significant replacement costs, it is understandable that owners seek definitive guidance on whether gentle driving or more spirited usage is preferable for long-term battery health.

      Even though costs have decreased, EV batteries remain costly to replace, leading long-term owners to prioritize careful driving and charging habits. A recent study published in the journal Nature led some to the conclusion that regularly pushing the accelerator pedal and enjoying the performance of an EV could extend battery longevity.

      The study, titled ‘Dynamic cycling enhances battery lifetime,’ analyzed how constant-current discharge processes performed in laboratory settings compared with dynamic charging and discharging conditions typical of everyday EV usage. It revealed that batteries subjected to the supposedly gentler constant-current tests aged more quickly than those in more realistic scenarios.

      Before you embark on a spirited drive, feeling as if a heavy diet of burgers and beer guarantees longevity, it's important to consider what battery diagnostics specialists from Aviloo have to say.

      Aviloo's analysis of 402 identical electric vehicles showed that driving energetically is a reliable method to shorten a battery's lifespan, as reported by Auto Motor und Sport. The reasoning is that hard driving leads to increased energy consumption, resulting in a higher number of charging cycles, added stress on the battery, and accelerated aging.

      “If you drive efficiently, you save about ten percent of energy throughout the battery's life,” stated Aviloo’s Nikolaus Mayerhofer to AMS. “This implies that 100,000 km (62,000 miles) using economical driving is roughly equivalent to the battery load of 110,000 km (68,000 miles) with a more aggressive driving style.”

      Aviloo is not claiming that the authors of the dynamic charging study were incorrect, but rather that their findings were misinterpreted by others. Their guidance for those looking to prolong their EV's battery lifespan remains consistent: drive efficiently, refrain from fast-charging unless absolutely necessary, avoid charging above 80 percent, and do not leave a car fully charged for extended periods.

      However, for those who find this approach tedious or unenjoyable, all hope is not lost. A recent study from Germany found that a VW ID.3 only lost 8 miles (13 km) of range after four years and 107,000 miles (172,000 km), despite being nearly always charged to full and frequently parked while fully charged.