An electric car is a car that is powered by one or more electric motors alone. The electrical energy needed for electro-mobility usually comes from a rechargeable battery (rechargeable battery). A special case would be a vehicle powered by a fuel cell, then often referred to as a fuel cell vehicle (see below). Also possible is the partial power supply via an internal combustion engine with generator; in this case, one speaks of a (serial) hybrid drive, Even parallel hybrids have an electric motor, but here the drive is partly done by an internal combustion engine, and then usually no longer speaks of an electric vehicle.

Electric motors can be installed as a wheel hub motors very space-saving. However, of course, a conventional positioning in an engine compartment is possible. It is more difficult to find space for the large and heavy vehicle battery - often under the seats and the luggage compartment, also to achieve a low center of gravity and thus a good road holding.

The battery is the heart of every electric car. The majority of current e-cars use lithium-ion batteries, which are expensive to manufacture and cost the higher their storage capacity. Due to the high production costs, the battery is usually the most expensive component of an e-vehicle and the reach of the batteries has a correspondingly large influence on the total price.

Like rechargeable batteries of laptops or mobile phones, unfortunately, the life of the rechargeable batteries of electric vehicles is limited, as they lose capacity over time. On the one hand, the lifetime of the batteries depends on their quality and cell chemistry, but the power loss is also strongly influenced by the ambient temperature and the use of the batteries. Who loads and maintains his vehicle properly, can increase the durability of his battery significantly.

Here Are 10 Simple Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle's Battery Longer

·        Avoid Full Loading and Complete Unloading

Extreme charge levels, so full charge (100%) and complete discharge (total discharge, 0%) hurt the life of e-car batteries. Charge levels are between 20 and 80%. Therefore, charge your battery only up to 80%, if you do not necessarily need the full charge capacity and range, and never leave the battery empty.

·        Leave Your Vehicle as Short as Possible in Fully Charged Condition

The battery life decreases when the battery is fully charged or over 80% charged for a long time. In cases where you need a full charge to achieve the full range performance of your vehicle, you should drive as soon as possible to keep it fully charged for too long.

·        Avoid Frequent Fast Charging

Although fast charging of e-cars is convenient in some situations, you should not always charge your electric vehicle with high current, because constant fast charging hurts the life of the battery. This is because during fast charging, the battery cells may under different circumstances be charged to a different degree and there is no voltage compensation between the individual cells. In the long run, it will lead to a reduction in battery capacity. The slower you charge the battery, the longer it lasts.

·        Slowly Charge Your Vehicle with "Snore Charge"

You can delay the ageing of your battery by charging your vehicle as slowly as possible. With a normal household power outlet) your battery will remain much longer operational than if you load it regularly with high currents.

·        Avoid Unnecessarily Strong Acceleration or Driving at Full Throttle

As for vehicles with an internal combustion engine, strong acceleration and long driving at full throttle are a burden for e-car batteries because it can overheat battery cells. If you want to use your battery as long as possible, you should renounce a wild driving style and protect the e-car battery by a uniform driving style.

·        Avoid Extreme Temperatures

Exposing batteries to high heat or cold quickly decreases their charge capacity. For a long-lasting use of your e-car battery, you should not leave your vehicle in the blazing sun in summer, but better park in a shady spot to save the battery. In winter, temperatures below freezing should be avoided by, for example, parking and charging the car in a garage, if possible.

·        Charge Your E-car in The Winter Immediately After the Ride

Charging in cold temperatures unnecessarily stresses the battery and thus reduces its service life. Therefore, it is advisable to charge your car in the winter immediately after the ride, if the battery is not yet cooled down to save the battery.

·        Pay Attention to A Medium Charge Level, If Your Car Is Longer

To slow down the performance loss of your e-car's battery, it also helps to pay attention to the battery level when your vehicle is standing for a long time. If your vehicle will not be driven for an extended period, it should not be full or empty. Ideally, the car stops at about 50 to 60% charge. If you do not need your vehicle for a long period, it makes sense to recharge a few times every few weeks to maintain the average charge level.

·        Use Apps or Charging Timers

Apps and charging buckets contribute to the battery-saving use of your e-car. Use apps and functions of your e-car, so that the battery of your vehicle as long as possible provides a long-range: So these systems are about able to stop charging before the battery is fully charged, so for example at 80% charge to avoid full loads. Thanks to apps and charging timers, you can control the start of charging time so that your vehicle will not be fully charged immediately and then, for example, stand still for many hours in the fully charged state overnight, which shortens battery life. Ideally, program the charging process so that your vehicle is fully charged shortly before departure.

·        Use Battery Management Systems for Gentle Charging

Your electric car usually has an intelligent battery management system(also called BMS), which communicates with the charging station or wall box to optimize the charging current for the least possible charging. Charging is automatically controlled and the system stops charging as soon as the battery is full or reaches a preset state of charge (eg 80%). During the charging process, the BMS monitors the voltages of the individual cells and compensates them by balancing again. Also, the charging system turns on heating or cooling as needed. If the outside temperature drops below a certain limit, the BMS automatically reduces the charging speed to prevent damage to the battery (eg lithium plating).