A motoring expert has warned owners of electric vehicles to help protect their batteries during the summer months.
As more UK drivers experience their first summer in an electric car or van, the EV leasing firm LeaseElectricCar gave motorists tips on how to avoid damaging their vehicle.
Tim Alcock, head of online at LeaseElectricCar, explained how small steps could help to save big problems in the future.
Tim said: “It’s best to get into these habits to preserve your electric car battery and help extend its lifespan, instead of leaving it to overheat and run the risk of deteriorating the battery.
“Drivers should be mindful about parking in the shade, especially during the hottest hours of the day, or park inside a garage.”
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Tim also described how certain ways of charging an electric vehicle could harm its battery and reduce range.
He explained: “Only charging up to 80 percent during the summer can stop cell degradation – where the battery loses the capacity to reach a full charge again.”
LeaseElectricCar also stated that rapid charging, which charges the vehicles battery quicker by using a higher voltage, may also wear out the battery at a quicker rate.
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The tips from LeaseElectricCar also highlight the importance of not using certain features of the car during hotter weather.
The company’s findings reveal that running the air conditioning can reduce an electric vehicles range by up to 15 percent.
Tim continued: “Air con can reduce the range of electric cars, so rolling down the windows instead will still keep the car cooler but prevent any travel issues.”
According to figures from EDF Energy, the lithium-ion batteries found in electric vehicles are predicted to last between 10 and 20 years.
Similar to batteries found in consumer goods like smartphones and laptops, they are often ‘buffered’, which helps to prevent the battery from running out completely and have cooling systems to maintain an optimal working temperature.
However, with a replacement battery said to cost several thousand pounds, many experts claim that these measures could improve the vehicle’s range and the battery’s life.
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