Top Five Worst Things You Can Do to Your EV

This is a list of the Top Five Worst Things You Can Do to Your EV. Avoiding these pitfalls will ensure your electric car gets you where you need to go for years to come.

Top Five

1. NOT FOLLOWING THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

Many people erroneously believe that their EV doesn’t need a tune-up or regular maintenance. Yes, your brakes take longer to wear out thanks to regenerative braking. Yes, you can skip the oil change. But your EV is a complex system of high-tech wonders that need a trained expert to glance at them… at least once in a while. Here is Kia’s recommended maintenance schedule.

2. OVER-CHARGING

An EV battery, like porridge and planets, does best in the Goldilocks Zone. Never let your battery sit at 100% charge. Generally speaking, lithium-ion batteries do best when they operate in the 30%-80% charge range.

Although it may take some extra planning, prolonging the time spent within that middle range may extend the life of your battery. One reason that batteries in mobile devices only last a couple of years is that they are pushed to their maximum daily, fully charged to fully drained.

3. DRAINING THE BATTERY

Conversely, leaving your battery in a low level (below 30%) charge state for an extended period may also impact its life. Indeed, most manufacturers protect batteries from becoming completely discharged - a state that can actually render the battery permanently dead.

Lithium-ion batteries prefer a partial cycle rather than a deep discharge or drain. Since lithium-ion batteries do not have a memory effect, there is no harm in using your vehicle - and charger - often. Not only will this avoid excessive battery wear, but it will also mean that, with a little planning, you will arrive at your destination with range to spare for years to come.

4. IMPROPER LONG-TERM STORAGE

The capacity of an EV battery may decrease over time when the vehicle is stored long-term in high temperatures. It will also decrease in low temperatures, even when left for a short period. If the vehicle will not be in use for an extended period of time, it’s recommended that you charge the battery once every three months to prevent it from fully discharging. If you can, store your EV inside away from extreme temperatures.

5. WORRYING ABOUT RANGE ANXIETY

There are two stages of EV ownership: the newbie Use Google Maps Before Every Trip Out Of The City To Double Check You Have The Range new driver camp; and the Get Out and Go experienced driver camp.

We get it. It can feel like a huge change from a gas-powered vehicle. There’s no jerry can to top up your battery when it hits zero. Long road trips may feel intimidating. But the only way to get used to it is to just get driving. Modern electric vehicles have upwards of 500 kms of range, and Level 2 and 3 charging stations are now everywhere. So do one last google to find some charging stations near where you’re heading, and hit the road. You’ll be glad you did.