The brain of an electric vehicle is its battery. Its health can directly impact your car’s performance, the distance it travels before a recharge, and its lifespan. Therefore, understanding how to check EV battery health is important if you look forward to purchasing a new or pre-owned electric four-wheeler.
Tips on How to Check EV Car Battery Health
1. Assess the State of Health (SoH):
The SoH reflects how much capacity your battery retains compared to when it was new. Most manufacturers provide an option to check this through your vehicle’s dashboard or app. An SoH below 70% may signal that the battery is ageing and requires replacement.
2. Conduct a Full Charge and Range Test
Charge your EV up to 100% and drive it until the battery is nearly depleted. Compare the distance driven with the car’s original estimated range. A significant decrease in range might suggest battery degradation. Remember that driving conditions, such as weather and traffic, can affect results, so replicate typical usage scenarios.
3. 3. Use the Battery Management System (BMS)
Most advanced EVs come with an in-built BMS that continuously tracks battery performance. You can access this information through your dashboard or a car app. Look for indicators such as voltage, temperature, and estimated range to spot any unusual changes.
4. Monitor Charging Times
Pay attention to how long it takes to charge your EV battery from point zero to hundred. If you notice that charging times are increasing day-by-day across different chargers, this could suggest battery issues.
5. Use Diagnostic Tools
You can connect third-party diagnostic tools to your car's OBD2 (On-Board Diagnostics) port and generate accurate insights into the battery’s health, including charging patterns, voltage levels, and historical data. These diagnostic tools can also identify functional damage.
6. Look Out for Warning Signs
Since batteries don’t falter overnight, persisting signs, such as reduced range, slow charging, overheating, or a sudden drop in battery percentage, can indicate deteriorating battery health.
Conclusion
By performing regular checks on your battery’s condition and understanding how to manage it effectively, you can enjoy all the benefits of driving an electric vehicle while extending its lifespan.
In addition, when you purchase an e-car, it's also vital to purchase car insurance tailored for EVs. This will help save your expensive repair and maintenance costs in the event of vehicle damage.
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