Electric Car Charging Tips

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Electric cars are the future, and everything is pointing towards a world where fossil fuel vehicles will be phased out completely. Many countries around the world have already created the infrastructure to accommodate electric cars on the road, and this has boosted the confidence in people to invest in them. But how exactly are they charged?

This is the question we are going to explore today. We will dive deep into the charging safety guidelines that electric car owners should adhere to, the conditions that one can charge their cars in, the voltage needed, the time it takes, among other important information that may come in handy. If you have been thinking of getting an electric car soon, then this could help you prepare for it well.

Electric Car Battery Types

Electric cars depend on batteries for power to function. These batteries come in different types that are designed using different materials and are designed for specific types of uses. The following are the main types of electric car batteries in use today. 

Lead-Acid Battery

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The lead-acid battery has been around for centuries having been invented in 1859. It has been used in cars to provide the ignition for triggering combustion in fossil field vehicles. The world has been using this battery for all these years, and now it is being transformed into the most important source of power for electric cars.

However, due to its bulky size and weight, the lead-acid battery is not being adopted for most electric cars as it should, but it’s one of the cheapest options around right now. It is now giving way for more efficient and technologically advanced options that are way better.

Nickel-Cadmium Battery

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The Nickel-Cadmium has been around for quite a while too, after making its debut in the 90s. It is way better than lead-acid batteries as it is smaller and packs more power than most of the older versions of batteries. Most are known to have a lifespan of more than 1000 charging cycles, and that’s a lot of time in the battery world.

The drawback of using nickel-cadmium batteries are the fact that they suffer from a known problem called the memory defect, which is a physical issue that causes the battery’s performance to steadily wane over time due to charge-drain cycles. Most of the nickel-cadmium batteries that are still around are heavily regulated and banned in most parts due to the high toxicity of cadmium.

Lithium-Ion Battery

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This is one of the more advanced forms of batteries that have been in use since the 90s, improving over the years to come one of the most used power sources in today’s world. It has a greater lifespan and it keeps the charge for much longer and the fact that they are compact and lightweight makes them ideal for electric cars.

The only drawback to this is that they require special casing and accurate controls in the recharging process as they tend to leak way too fast. A lot of the early electric cars started out with lithium-ion batteries, and most continue to use them to this day.

Solid-State Batteries

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This is one of the latest and the most advanced batteries in the market today that are heavily used in electric cars as they are up to par with most of the car technologies being used today. 

The principle behind these batteries is really interesting. It makes use of a liquid electrolyte that can be replaced when it has served its purpose. This electrolyte is combined with a plastic polymer, some inorganic powders that combine to make the right conditions for electricity to be stored and generated.

Solid-state batteries have a high energy density, are lightweight, have a very long lifespan, and are easier to control. The future of electric cars has these batteries at the center of that revolution.

EV Battery Life Span

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The technologies behind electric cars have been improving over the eyes to encompass some long-lasting batteries that last people for a long time. Every battery used in EV cars undergoes several cycles of charging and discharging, and over time, this affects the lifespan of the battery. Most of the EV batteries last for between 10-20 years before the car wonder gets the need to replace them.

EV Battery Charge Time

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How long does it take to charge an electric car battery? That’s the question that is always on the mind of every person looking to buy an electric car. A typical EV battery that’s about 60kWh takes about 8 hours to fully charge from zero to full when using a 7kWh charging point. This is more than enough time for someone to get their car full overnight before using it in the morning. Some come with rapid 50kWh chargers that can add about 100 miles with a 35-minute charge. 

EV Charging Safety & Weather

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Can you charge the EV in the rain or a thunderstorm? That’s another pertinent question that people ask all the time. The common fear here is justified considering how electricity gets when it comes in contact with water. So how safe is it? It is safe to charge your electrical vehicle in any weather no matter how hard it is, except for floods and hurricanes as those could carry the car away. EVs are engineered to withstand extreme weather, and this makes it possible for the charging to be handled without any mishaps.

Best Way to Charge Electric Cars

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To get the best out of your electric car, you have to charge it the right way. This is something that new car owners have trouble with. To be able to charge your electric car properly, adhere to the following tips.

• Do not charge your car to the maximum capacity. Charge it to about 80% instead of the full charge. This creates the space for regenerative braking to transform the kinetic energy stored into useful and executable energy.
• When you don’t have any plans to cover long distances, then keep the car charging in the garage. To avoid overcharging, set the maximum charge to 50% to ensure the battery doesn’t get spoiled in the process.
• Always park in the shade and avoid direct sunlight. Keeping the car cool at all times is important as that keeps your battery from overheating as this could lead to a serious draining of the battery life.
• Try as much as you can to avoid using quick charging every time you need to charge, the battery. This reduces the lifespan of the battery. When you have to charge the EV, make sure you create ample time for the process to complete the normal way.
• Avoid deep discharging at all costs. This is a situation where you allow the battery to run empty before charging it. Make it a habit to charge your car battery every time it goes below 30%. This is another way of ensuring that the battery doesn’t lose its ability to stay for long in the long run.
• Always plan your route every time you go for a long drive. Unlike gasoline that has gas stations every few miles, It is hard finding a functioning EV charging port around, and this means that you have to conserve your charge for as long as you can. Therefore, plan your route nicely to avoid running into empty charge troubles while you are out on the road.

Are you confused about which EV charging station manufacturer is the best? Here is a list for you: Best 6 EV Charging Station Manufacturers In USA

Conclusion

Electric cars are the future, and there’s no running away from that reality. More carmakers are turning to electric cars as the years go by, and it is only a matter of time before they become the standard cars on the roads. To learn more about electric car batteries and how they operate. Check out our website and have all your questions answered by our teams of experts.