
A new study suggests electric vehicle life cycles may be longer than previously estimated
December 10, 2024 21:13

- A new study suggests that electric vehicle batteries may last much longer than previously estimated.
- One of the study’s authors said “we’re not testing EV batteries in the right way” because they don’t take into account real-world driving conditions.
- Acceleration, braking and downtime all contribute to extending battery life.
Battery degradation is a serious problem that can significantly reduce the range of older electric vehicles or require expensive battery replacement. However, a new study from scientists at SLAC-Stanford Battery Center suggests that electric vehicle batteries may last much longer than previously thought.
According to Stanford University’s summary, the way battery life cycles are typically calculated for electric vehicles is not very good. This is because they assume a fairly constant discharge and charge cycle, which does not happen with vehicles.
More: Tesla battery delivers only 64% of EPA range after 3 years, but with a big asterisk
In contrast, electric cars enable experiences ranging from short jaunts around town to long highway drives. There was also stop-and-go traffic and lots of people sitting in the parking lot. Charging also varies, as some users may top up the battery every night, while others may wait a few days between charges.
This relatively chaotic life is difficult to replicate in the lab, so the researchers created four discharge profiles based on driving data. With these, they “tested 92 commercially available lithium-ion batteries over two years” and found that the more realistic the contours, “the longer the electric vehicle’s life expectancy.”

The study found some surprises, including that sharp, brief accelerations could lead to slower degradation. This is the opposite of what you expect to happen. Additionally, research shows that regenerative braking and allowing the battery to “rest” can help extend the life of the battery.
There is also an important distinction between time and cycles when it comes to battery aging. Bicycles are even more important for electric vehicles that are frequently used, such as taxis, buses and delivery vans. For consumers, time is the ultimate enemy.
While you can read the full study here, the researchers say automakers “can update their EV battery management software to take advantage of the new findings and maximize battery life under real-world conditions.”
H/T Go to Hill

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