How to Maintain EV Battery Life
Maintaining the battery life of an electric car is crucial for optimal performance and longevity.
At CUPRA, our electric cars are designed with strict criteria to ensure minimal battery degradation, offering advanced systems for charge and discharge management that maximise battery life and performance.
For peace of mind, we also offer an industry-leading warranty of 8 years or 160,000 kilometres for our BEVs (battery electric vehicles), guaranteeing a remaining battery capacity of at least 70% throughout this period.*
While CUPRA vehicles are equipped with technology to actively maintain battery health, this article outlines optional practices to support battery maintenance.
Understanding Electric Car Batteries
Electric vehicles typically use lithium ion batteries, which are the most prevalent.
How Lithium-Ion Batteries Work
Lithium-ion batteries function by moving lithium ions between the anode and cathode during discharge and charge cycles. When the battery is charged, lithium ions move from the cathode to the anode, storing energy. Conversely, when the battery pack discharges, the ions move back to the cathode, releasing energy to power the vehicle.
At CUPRA, we exclusively use advanced lithium-ion batteries, the leading technology in electric vehicles. Known for their high energy density, efficiency and reliability, lithium-ion batteries ensure optimal performance.
They can be found in our car models such as the CUPRA Born and CUPRA Tavascan, allowing for extended range and durability.
With high energy density and a long cycle life, lithium-ion batteries are the ideal solution for powering electric vehicles.
Factors Affecting Car Battery Life
Electric car batteries are designed to offer long-lasting performance, but like all technologies, they naturally experience gradual changes over time.
Factors influencing the lifespan of an electric car battery, including:
- Cyclic Aging: How often and how fully you charge the battery can impact its longevity.
- Calendar Aging: A natural time-related process that occurs even when your battery isn’t in use.
- Extreme Temperatures: Sustained exposure to very high or low temperatures can affect the overall battery health.
With proper care and timely servicing, you can ensure your vehicle continues to perform at its best, maintaining smooth and reliable operation for years to come.
Technology to Protect EV Batteries
CUPRA vehicles are equipped to actively maintain battery health and performance.
Below are the key measures available in all our electric cars:
- Thermal Management System: Ensures the battery operates at optimal temperatures during charging and usage, preventing overheating or excessive cooling.
- Battery Heating Feature: Regulates the battery temperature during planned routes to optimise charging times and reduce battery stress.
- Advanced Battery Management System (BMS): This tracks the state of charge (SoC) to prevent overcharging or deep discharging. It helps maintain optimum temperature, preventing overheating and thermal stress. It also has a cell balancing feature to ensure all cells are charged and discharged evenly, enhancing overall efficiency.
- Optimised Charging Modes: Features such as the ability to set maximum charging limits (e.g., 80%) to preserve battery life.
- Regenerative Braking Systems: Converts kinetic energy into electrical energy to recharge the battery while driving, reducing strain from deep discharges and overcharging.
These features are pivotal in maintaining optimal performance and extending the battery life.
All this technology is typically found in our electric cars such as the CUPRA Born and CUPRA Terramar, as well as our hybrid vehicles.
Best Practices for Battery Maintenance
As discussed, maintaining optimal battery health is vital for the longevity and performance of electric vehicles.
Here are some best practices you can easily implement to help make sure the battery of your EV remains in peak condition.
Manage the State of Charge
Keep the battery charge level between 20-80%. It is advisable to keep your battery charged within this range. Operating outside this range can expose it to unnecessary stress and degradation. Regularly depleting the battery fully or charging it to 100% should be avoided unless necessary.
For longer journeys, charging the battery pack to its maximum capacity is acceptable. This should ideally be done only for long trips, while regular daily charging should stick to the 20-80% range to prolong the life of the battery.
Minimising Rapid Charging
Use rapid charging sparingly. While convenient, frequent use of rapid charging can increase temperatures, accelerating wear. It is recommended to save rapid charging for situations when you really need it. Whenever possible, use standard home charging options instead of public charging stations. Charging at a slower rate can help maintain the health of the battery over the long term.
Temperature Management
Avoid extreme temperatures. Parking your car in shaded areas during hot weather and in garages during colder months can significantly mitigate the risk of thermal stress on the battery.
Regardless, with a Thermal Management System found in electric vehicles such as CUPRA car models this helps to regulate the battery's temperature during charging and operation. CUPRA vehicles offer a battery heating feature that adjusts the temperature of the battery during a planned route. This helps optimise charging times and ensures conditions prevent battery degradation.
Charging Tips to Extend the Battery Life
The following tips focus on smart charging practices and vehicle usage that contribute to good battery health.
Reduce AC Charging Current
CUPRA vehicles allow drivers to set a maximum charging limit of 80% to preserve the battery.
It prevents overloading your home's electrical system, minimises heat generation and helps extend the longevity of the battery and the car.
Plan Charging Around Your Schedule
Charging during off-peak hours can save costs and reduce strain on the battery. Electricity during off-peak hours tends to be more stable, with fewer fluctuations in voltage due to lower overall demand. This consistent flow reduces stress on the battery and charging system.
Avoid Leaving Your Car Idle
Batteries require periodic cycling to stay in optimal condition. For models like the CUPRA Born and Tavascan, it’s advisable to avoid leaving the battery at very low levels for long durations.
The infotainment system in our electric vehicles offer further tips to optimise charging and car longevity.
*A gradual reduction in battery capacity over time is a normal characteristic of high-voltage batteries and does not constitute a defect. However, If a CUPRA-authorised repairer confirms that the battery capacity has fallen below 70% during the warranty period, it may qualify for warranty coverage, subject to the applicable terms and conditions.