The heart of the electric vehicle - the battery

The electric vehicle battery is the most expensive and important component in the electric vehicle. What makes it special, why is it so important, and how can we maintain it over time?

The electric vehicle battery is located at the bottom of the vehicle and is used to store energy for driving the vehicle. The battery can be compared to the familiar fuel tank, which helps determine the vehicle's driving range. The battery can be charged with electricity using a cable connected to a power source, and proper charging of the electric vehicle will allow driving for hundreds of kilometers according to the declarations of the vehicle manufacturers/importers and extend the battery's lifespan.

Understanding the Battery

The battery structure can be divided into two categories: components including cells, modules, the pack, the cooling system, and the casing. Electronic components include the Battery Management System (BMS), the charge controller, and the voltage regulator.

The cells are the basic units of energy storage, and they are made of raw materials such as lithium, graphite, aluminum, nickel, copper, steel, manganese, cobalt, and iron. The cells are grouped into modules and packs to safely and efficiently manage the battery's power output. The cooling system and casing help regulate the temperature and protect the battery from external damage.

The Battery Management System (BMS) monitors the battery's health by measuring voltage levels, charge/discharge rates, and temperature, and it also prevents overcharging and over-discharging. The charge controller balances the energy used to charge the battery with the energy produced from the grid or solar panel, and it also measures the current flow during charging. The voltage regulator balances the battery's voltage levels during charging and discharging.

The number and type of cells, modules, and packs vary depending on the design and specifications of the electric vehicle.

Such a battery structure allows, in case of a fault in a cell or module, to replace only the defective part without replacing the entire battery.

Types of Batteries Used in Electric Vehicles

The electric vehicle is powered by an electric battery. There are different types of batteries, with the most common ones divided into three types: Lead-Acid, Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH), and the most common one is Lithium-Ion (Li-ion).

Lithium-Ion Battery

The success of the lithium-ion battery is due to its high energy density relative to its weight, high energy efficiency, and good performance at high temperatures. An electric vehicle lithium-ion battery is characterized by low self-discharge and the ability to recycle most of its parts.

Notable Advantage: The properties of the lithium-ion battery allow even a relatively small and light battery to provide a high amount of energy with a large number of charge cycles - properties considered critical in an electric vehicle where the battery is the central component.

Notable Disadvantage: Despite the progress compared to previous battery types, the battery's power still needs improvement. Additionally, the battery requires the use of built-in protection mechanisms.

Maintaining Battery Lifespan

The transition from an internal combustion engine vehicle to an electric vehicle requires a change in thinking and daily behavior regarding the long-term preservation of the vehicle's battery life and health. Improper handling of this matter may cause damage worth tens of thousands of shekels or even more.

Adhering to several simple rules will allow you to maintain the battery's lifespan:

• The optimal range for maintaining battery life is 20% to 90%, so full charging should be reserved for cases where a long trip is planned.
• It is advisable not to bring the battery to a 0% charge state. In such a case, damage may occur to various components in the vehicle, and the battery may be drained, requiring its replacement.
• The desired battery state should not drop below a 20% charge.
• It is advisable to reduce the use of a fast charging station (DC) and primarily use regular charging (AC) with a suitable station.
• Extreme temperatures of heat and cold harm battery life. It is advisable for the electric vehicle to be in a closed or covered place or alternatively park it in the shade, especially when intending to leave the electric vehicle unused for a relatively long period.
• It is advisable to avoid continuous driving with accelerations and braking, which harms battery quality and shortens its lifespan.

What About Warranty?

Every battery, including the one in the electric vehicle, loses its functionality over time. This is due to various parameters such as battery age, nature and frequency of vehicle use, and environmental factors such as weather.

Most electric vehicle importers offer a warranty for the vehicle's battery for up to 8 years or alternatively up to 160,000 km (whichever comes first) from the date of vehicle purchase. The warranty provided varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, so it is advisable to check according to the purchased vehicle.