Electric Vehicles (EVs) continue to grow in popularity as more consumers look for sustainable products and turn to green energy as a part of a carbon-free lifestyle. While EVs of the past came in only a few makes and models, the increasing demand for EVs is resulting in a wide range of options on the market.
Once you’ve purchased an EV, you’ll probably have a few questions about maintaining this type of car. Unlike Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, EVs have relatively low ongoing maintenance costs. With an all-electric motor, EVs do not require oil changes or other fluid flushes. In fact, it is their incredibly low maintenance requirements that make EVs a more affordable vehicle to own in the long run.
Owning an EV also means skipping a trip to the pump. When you opt for an all-electric vehicle, you can simply invest in an EV charging station for your home and charge your vehicle between uses.
Central to the operation of an EV is the vehicle’s battery bank. EVs are equipped with incredibly powerful batteries that offer far greater output than your traditional car battery. These battery banks are what enable EVs to travel long distances between charges.
If you’re new to owning an EV, you might wonder when you will need to replace your Electric Car / EV battery and how you go about choosing the best electric car battery for your specific make and model.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the power behind your EV.
Before you begin worrying about replacing your EV battery, it is important to understand what you can expect from the life expectancy of an EV battery. The high cost of replacing an EV battery is often what deters someone from purchasing an EV in the first place.
The good news is that EV battery packs today have come a long way from the initial packs found in early EV iterations. Today, most EV battery packs come with a warranty from the automaker that is good for up to 100,000 miles or eight years.
Beyond just the assurance of a battery pack’s warranty is the incredible longevity of EV batteries today; EV battery packs are designed to last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. For most EV owners, battery packs will actually outlast ownership of the vehicle.
For this reason, the odds are good that if you purchase a new EV, you will never need to worry about replacing the battery.
With ICE vehicles, you knew it was time to replace your car battery when your vehicle would no longer start. For EVs, knowing when to replace the battery pack is based on the capacity of the battery and the range of your vehicle. If your battery capacity is falling below 70% or you are noticing a dramatic decrease in the range your vehicle can travel between charges, it might be time for a visit to your dealership or mechanic. They can help you determine whether or not your battery pack is at fault.
If the time has come to replace your EV battery pack, the first thing you should do is check to see if your battery is still under warranty. If your battery is under warranty, a replacement will be simple. Visit your local dealership and request information about how you can schedule your new battery installation.
If you need to shop for a new EV battery on your own, use the following information to help guide you through your choices.
For EVs, one of the most popular battery types is lithium-ion. Lithium-ion batteries store an incredible amount of energy while remaining lightweight. For this reason, they are one of the top picks for EVs.
Not only do they provide a superior power-to-weight ratio when compared to other battery types, but they’re better at maintaining their charge. Most batteries have a high self-discharge rate. This means that even when they are not in use, the battery will quickly lose power. Lithium-ion batteries, however, have an incredibly low self-discharge rate.
Additionally, lithium-ion batteries are one of the best choices for long-distance travel. This makes them the preferred choice for the latest and best EVs, which can travel long ranges between charges.
While you might also find Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) and Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) batteries in certain EV makes and models, in most cases, when shopping for an EV battery pack, you’ll be choosing from lithium-ion batteries.
When replacing your EV battery pack, you have the option to purchase either a brand-new battery or a rebuilt battery.
Brand-new battery packs will be the most costly, but they often come with an extensive warranty similar to the battery pack that originally came with your vehicle.
For those on a budget, a rebuilt battery is a great choice. Not only that, but a rebuilt battery pack is more environmentally friendly. Rather than requiring the use of new materials, a rebuilt battery pack will repurpose existing materials while ensuring the full operability of a new battery.
Finally, which battery pack is the best choice for your Electric Car / EV will have a lot to do with the year, make, and model of your EV. Make sure to ask your mechanic or dealership about what battery will match your vehicle type.
The size, power, and range of your battery pack will need to match your vehicle specs. For this reason, when you are shopping for an EV battery replacement, you’ll often see the packs categorized by year, make, and model.
If you are interested in contributing to a more sustainable future, join the charge. Purchasing an EV is the perfect place to begin. Every time you plug in your vehicle instead of visiting the pumps, you’ll be helping build a greener future for all. To stay tuned to the latest in EV living, be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media.
Published November 10, 2022 10:17PM
Eveelife is an eco-oriented lifestyle platform that helps consumers make more purposeful choices about how they live and what they consume. We do it by curating content and products that help them make more conscious, carbon-free choices while amplifying their EV ownership experience.
