Just like charging your smartphone too fast ruins its battery health, the EV battery is also susceptible to bad outcomes from ultrafast charging.
In a bid to make electric vehicles more attractive to potential buyers, manufacturers have been working to bring them on par with fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. After addressing range concerns, EV makers are now addressing refueling concerns with ultrafast charging options.
But are these good for your car? Experts are warning against them, since they eat into your vehicle’s battery life. Concerns about ultrafast charging are not just limited to electric vehicles. Consumers know the disadvantages of ultrafast charging when it comes to their smartphones and other electronic devices. Since the same battery chemistry mostly powers electric vehicles, the drawbacks of the technology extend to new-age transportation options. A loss in battery performance due to ultrafast charging would require users to change the battery in a few years. However, since batteries are one of the most expensive components of an electric vehicle, users might be tempted to switch to a new vehicle, rather than only a battery pack. This would increase the cost of ownership of the EV and severely shorten the lifespan of this eco-friendly transportation. A blow for ride-hailing servicesThe biggest impact of this adverse effect will be felt by ride-hailing services that rely on ultrafast charging to keep their uptimes high. On average, an electric vehicle used as a cab travels 60 miles and turns to faster charging options to return quickly to the road. Recent updates from battery makers have touted how charging an EV has become on par with fueling a car with gasoline, since charge states of over 80 percent can now be reached in just five minutes. To achieve this, battery makers plan to use chargers with outputs of greater than 500 kW. However, research has shown that chargers over 120 kW can shorten battery lifespans by as much as 40 percent compared to lower output chargers. In such a situation, EV owners are caught between reduced charging times and maintaining a good battery life for their vehicles, CarNewsChina reported. Can better warranties help EV owners? To protect consumer interests, governments can put in place regulations for larger warranty periods on critical components like batteries. Including a minimum number of years or a range that will ensure the battery is replaced if its performance drops below 80 percent could help the consumer.Newer batteries have improved features to prevent battery degradation but better warranty policies could also help protect consumers. Image credit: adventrr/iStockHowever, such approaches also come with their caveats. Manufacturers associate warranties with strict conditions such as no change in vehicle ownership, timely maintenance services, and prohibiting commercial use of the vehicle. In such a scenario, ride-hailing cabs needing ultrafast charging are left without protection. The problem isn’t restricted to drivers who intend to use the vehicle for commercial use alone. Private car owners could face similar issues or misunderstand the warranty terms and what is covered. On their part, manufacturers can introduce newer chargers and charging features that reduce instances that cause battery degradation over time. But even owners can exercise caution and turn to fast chargers only when urgently required and not for routine charge cycles, experts suggest. Only through a mix of approaches can we ensure that the EV revolution is here to stay and is both beneficial and economical for all the stakeholders involved.
Battery Degradation Battery Performance Energy Energy &Amp Environment EV Battery EV Revolution Ultrafast Charging
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