Electric Vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity as a cleaner, more efficient alternative to petrol/diesel cars. However, the longevity of your EV’s battery is key to ensuring you get the most out of your vehicle. By taking proper care of the battery, you can reduce maintenance costs and extend the range and life of your EV. Like any vehicle component, the EV battery requires proper care to ensure longevity and optimal performance. Maximizing your battery life enhances your vehicle’s efficiency and saves you from the expense of early replacements. In this blog, we’ll provide you with 10 valuable tips to help you get the most out of your EV battery.

What Is the Lifespan of Electric Car Batteries?

Electric cars, powered by lithium-ion batteries, have seen remarkable advancements in recent years. Designed for durability, these batteries have a lifespan between 8 to 15 years, with most EV warranties starting at 8 years. Future improvements in battery technology are expected to make them outlast the lifespan of the vehicle itself. The overall durability of an EV battery depends on several factors, including usage, environmental conditions, and maintenance. To ensure optimal performance and longevity, always refer to your vehicle’s specific charging guidelines, helping maximize both efficiency and lifespan.

10 Tips for Maximising Your EV’s Battery Life Span

Let’s explore these 10 EV charging dos and don’ts that apply to most electric vehicles.

1. Avoid Frequent Fast Charging

While fast charging is convenient, relying on it too often can degrade your battery over time. Fast chargers generate more heat, which can accelerate wear on the battery cells. Instead, use a home charger or a Level 1 or Level 2 charger whenever possible for daily charging needs. Reserve fast charging for emergencies or long trips.

2. Maintain Your Battery Charge Between 20-80%

Keeping your battery level between 20% and 80% is one of the best practices for extending its life. Charging to 100% or allowing the battery to drain below 20% can stress the battery cells, reducing their overall capacity. Many EVs allow you to set a charging limit — use this feature to protect your battery’s health.

3. Allow Your Battery to Cool Down Before Charging

Temperature plays a crucial role in battery performance. After a long drive, give your EV’s battery time to cool down before plugging it in. Charging a hot battery can lead to increased wear and reduced lifespan. Aim to charge when the battery is cool, ideally during the early morning or late evening.

4. Minimize Exposure to Extreme Temperatures

Extreme heat or cold can significantly impact your battery’s efficiency and lifespan. High temperatures can accelerate battery degradation while freezing conditions can temporarily reduce the battery’s capacity. Park your EV in a shaded area or garage whenever possible to protect it from harsh weather.

5. Drive Smoothly and Use Regenerative Braking

Aggressive driving, such as rapid acceleration and sudden braking, consumes more battery power and increases wear on the cells. Instead, drive smoothly and take advantage of regenerative braking, which captures energy and sends it back to the battery. This not only extends your battery life but also improves overall efficiency.

6. Limit the Use of Climate Control Systems

Air conditioning and heating can quickly drain your EV’s battery, especially in extreme weather. Try preconditioning your vehicle while it’s still plugged in to reduce the impact on your battery. Use seat warmers instead of cranking up the heater as they consume less energy.

7. Keep Your EV Software Up to Date

Manufacturers frequently release software updates for EVs that improve battery management and efficiency. Regularly updating your EV’s software ensures you benefit from the latest enhancements that can help extend battery life. Most modern EVs support over-the-air updates, so make sure your vehicle is connected to WiFi for seamless updates.

8. Perform Regular Maintenance and Check-Ups

Even though EVs have fewer moving parts than traditional vehicles, regular maintenance is essential for optimal battery health. Schedule periodic check-ups with a certified technician who can inspect the battery, cooling system, and other components. Catching potential issues early can prevent costly repairs down the line.

9. Plan for Long-Term Storage Properly

If you plan to store your EV for an extended period, aim to leave the battery charge between 50% and 60%. Avoid leaving it fully charged or completely drained, as this can accelerate battery wear. Some EVs offer a “storage mode” — activate this feature if available to maintain optimal battery conditions during long-term storage.

10. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated

Maintaining the correct tire pressure is crucial for all vehicles, but it’s particularly important for EVs. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, making your EV work harder and draining the battery faster. Regularly check and adjust your tire pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended levels to optimize efficiency and extend your range.

Which EV Charging Station Is the Best?

Prolonging the lifespan of your EV battery is not just cost-effective—it’s essential for sustained performance. One key factor in extending battery life is maintaining the right temperature during driving and charging. Regular software updates and using regenerative braking can further enhance your EV’s range. The choice of charging stations also plays a crucial role in preserving battery health. For everyday charging, using a Level 1 charger helps maintain battery capacity. When you’re on the move, Level 2 or Level 3 fast chargers offer a quick boost. Incharz by Servotech is committed to providing reliable and efficient EV charging stations to ensure you can reach your destination with confidence. Thinking of upgrading your EV charger? Explore Incharz by Servotech—your trusted partner for smart, battery-friendly charging solutions that optimize your EV experience.

Conclusion

Taking good care of your EV’s battery is crucial for maximizing its lifespan and maintaining peak performance. Following these simple tips, you can enjoy a longer-lasting battery, reduce maintenance costs, and get the most out of your electric vehicle. Remember, your EV’s battery is one of its most valuable components — treat it with care, and it will reward you with efficient, reliable performance for years to come.

In recent years, India’s electric vehicle (EV) industry has witnessed a significant surge in momentum, fueled by a global shift towards sustainable transportation solutions. Central to the success and sustainability of this sector is the growth of the EV battery industry and EV battery, a critical component that directly impacts the performance, range, and overall viability of electric vehicles. As the nation strives to address environmental concerns, reduce dependency on conventional fuel sources, and embrace a cleaner, greener future, the EV battery industry has emerged as a focal point for innovation and investment. However, this growth is not without its set of challenges, ranging from technological hurdles to infrastructural limitations. Against this backdrop, various government initiatives play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of India’s EV battery sector, steering the nation towards a more sustainable and electrified future. This blog focuses on the dynamic landscape of India’s EV battery industry, exploring its growth trajectory, the challenges it confronts, and the strategic initiatives undertaken by the government to propel this transformative journey.

Factors Driving the Demand for Batteries in India

The increasing demand for electric vehicles across passenger and commercial segments is one of the primary factors that is responsible for driving demand for batteries in India. Homes are also becoming smarter and using different types of electronic devices to complete routine tasks. The usage of electronic devices at home has increased the demand for the required power supply and the existing capacity of grid supply is not enough to meet this demand. Shortage of the required grid supply also proves an important driving factor for increasing demand for batteries. Besides, Central and State Govts. are continuously taking big initiatives to accelerate rapid urbanization and industrialization to contribute to the economy which leads to increased demand for electricity. Batteries, especially in the form of backup power solutions, in rural areas with limited or unreliable access to the electricity grid, and urban, and industrial settings, are essential to ensure uninterrupted power supply. Batteries prove good off-grid solutions when grid supply is not available. The telecommunication infrastructure is another domain that essentially requires high-capacity batteries to ensure smooth connectivity in remote areas. The power sector currently produces insufficient energy and it requires huge improvement to successfully overcome the considerable issues of unstable power infrastructure. High capacity Energy Storage Solutions appear to be a feasible amenity to bring positive change in the energy sector but they also need batteries to keep ESS functioning and deliver expected results. Above-listed factors are significantly driving the demand for batteries in India.

Opportunities and Challenges 

The adoption of EVs is continuously increasing and electric vehicles are penetrating the market with higher sales. They require lithium-ion batteries in huge amounts. Consistently growing sales of EVs also increase the demand for lithium-ion batteries because they are the main components in electric vehicles. These numbers will increase more in the coming years to touch new limits. Lithium-ion batteries also help as an emergency power backup system at home, workplace, and C&I. These batteries additionally play a key role in increasing the capacity of the power backup system and provide enlarged backup time. These consistently growing demands provide huge opportunities for all lithium-ion battery manufacturers. When combined with meticulous planning and feasible strategies lithium-ion battery manufacturers can reap great benefits from this opportunity to lead in the market. This is undoubtedly a golden opportunity to grow in terms of revenue and growth, however, there are some significant challenges as well which prove big constraints to meet the targets and require urgent attention. The battery manufacturing sector is very big, not only in India but across the world, and is currently incapable of meeting the constantly increasing demands in the market. The shortage of key raw materials like lithium, cobalt, etc. is the main reason behind the limited manufacturing of batteries. Importing these raw materials from foreign countries is the only feasible solution to overcome this shortage with China being reportedly the biggest supplier of lithium, cobalt, and other raw materials. Expensive import, and stipulated rules & regulations are other challenges in the way of manufacturing lithium batteries in the required quantity and ensuring smooth supply to the end-user. Mineral Exploration Corporation Limited (MECL) however has found some lithium reserves in India at J&K and Rajasthan locations but exploration and processing of lithium is still a work in progress and require some time. Expensive manufacturing techniques, the fragile ecosystem around the reserves, and other important environmental challenges act as a barrier to moving further. In these scenarios, effective government policies become imperative in order to enable the start of lithium mining to ensure easy availability of raw lithium at a reduced price and cut dependency on foreign exports.

Government’s Initiatives in Creating a Sustainable EV Battery Ecosystem 

Over the last few years, the government has introduced policies, and regulatory support along with the required framework for the development of the amicable EV ecosystem in the country. FAME II scheme delivered good results in the last few years and now the ACC (Advanced Chemistry Cell) PLI scheme is expected to help the nation save millions against the import of crude oil and enhance the share of renewable energy at the national grid level. This government initiative also emphasizes optimizing domestic value addition and making India globally competitive as far as battery manufacturing capabilities are concerned. As per the guidelines of the ACC PLI program, manufacturers essentially have to set up the manufacturing facility within a period of a maximum of two years after getting the approval and the applicable incentives will be disbursed later after continuously selling batteries that are manufactured indigenously. The disbursal time may span up to a period of over five years or even more. These guidelines clearly demonstrate the government’s determination to create a world-class EV ecosystem in the country as soon as possible. The provision of disbursing incentives on the basis of continuous selling of batteries will also give confidence to manufacturers to successfully run their battery manufacturing units for a long time and receive government support to escape all roadblocks.

Way Ahead

Servotech is already a renowned brand in the EV charger manufacturing industry and has secured a respected place in the list of most competent manufacturers. In order to enhance our manufacturing capabilities, we have established our subsidiary Techbec Green Energy Private Limited. We have also signed an MoU with GoUP, in line with Uttar Pradesh Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy 2022, to set up an EV charger manufacturing unit. This upcoming plant is a 300 cr. investment and will be partially operational in the first quarter of 2025 and will have the annual capacity of manufacturing around 10,000 EV chargers. This plant will additionally create over 500 jobs. Servotech expects to touch the revenue targets of 2,000-3,000 cr in coming years while supporting & strengthening indigenous manufacturing and securing a place among the top 3 EV charger manufacturers and will construct its new plant in Uttar Pradesh in a campus-inspired style as well as will maintain a state-of-the-art infrastructure along with a world-class R&D facility equipped with the latest machinery and amenities. Servotech maintains a progressive approach and consistently works with big expansion plans for future growth. Since beginning in 2004, the company has registered exponential growth in the last two decades. During this long & successful journey, we have offered an extensive range of products including AC&DC EV chargers and more.

Authored By
Mr. Raman Bhatia, Founder &  Managing Director
Servotech Power Systems Ltd.

This article was originally published in Industrial Products Finder