Charging an e-car the right way: tips and tricks

Charge efficiently, conserve your battery, save money: discover our tips for a relaxed, voltage-charged handling of your electric car here.

5.01.2022
reading time: 8 minutes

Relaxed on voltage

The heart of every electric car is, of course, the battery. Due to its storage capacity, the battery is a decisive component for the range of an electric car. This has a direct influence on mobile independence. Batteries with 1.000 km range is still a long way off. Until then, lithium-ion batteries are the standard. On the one hand, these become more expensive with increasing memory capacity. On the other hand, the longer they are used, the lower their capacity. A natural process. But with proper care of your vehicle’s battery, you can significantly extend its shelf life. We’ll tell you here what tricks you can use:

charging an electric car the right way audi e-tron display battery level

The comfort zone of the battery level is between 20 and 80 percent.

Tip 1: no extreme charging conditions

As is often the case, the truth lies in the middle: neither a full charge to 100 percent nor an empty battery (below 20 percent) is good for a battery. Clearly, an empty battery has a negative effect on the range of your electric car. But even a fully charged battery is not beneficial for the chemical processes in the e-car battery. Since the charging speed decreases from a charge level of 80 percent, charging up to 100 percent consumes more power and charging time than it needs to. Charging levels in the range of 20 to 80 percent are the most gentle on the battery, because this is when the battery in your electric car can deliver its full performance. If you are planning to leave your e-car at a charging station for a longer period of time, the battery should be charged to at least 50 percent.

Tip 2: charge slowly

An 80-percent charge within ten minutes, even more so when you’re on the road – who can say "no" to that?? The practical benefits of fast charging are clear to everyone. But in the long run, refueling with high charging power has a negative effect on the life and range of the vehicle, because rapid DC charging charges the battery cells to different degrees. This means that there is no voltage equalization between the individual cells. In this way, the battery capacity is reduced in the long term. Conversely, this means that the moderate charging speed of an 11-kW wallbox is highly recommended.

E-car charging correctly in winter landscape Bird's eye view

Adapt your charging behavior to the seasons. Keeping you on the road in winter.

Tip 3: no extreme temperatures

High heat or freezing cold reduce the charging capacity of batteries. The storage cells of the lithium-ion battery in your electric car feel cold at approx. 20 degrees celsius pudelwohl. On hot days, therefore, park your electric car in a shady spot if possible, such as a parking lot. B. Under a carport. In winter, on the other hand, protect your electric car from minus temperatures by storing it in the garage. in addition, when managing your time, bear in mind that the lower temperatures can prolong charging processes.

Tip: charge your electric car in winter directly after the journey. Then the battery is still at operating temperature. This saves time and resources.

Tip 4: gentle charging with battery management system (BMS)

Look for a battery management system when equipping your electric car. It automatically controls the charging with electricity at the charging station. As soon as the battery is fully charged or has reached a certain state of charge, the BMS terminates the charging process. It also communicates with the charging station, monitors the voltages of the individual cells during the charging process, and compensates for irregularities through balancing.

The BMS also ensures suitable temperatures: depending on the weather, it is able to regulate the temperature by means of heating or cooling. When the outside temperature falls below a certain limit, the BMS automatically reduces the charging speed to prevent damage to the battery.

Charging an electric car the right way Hand on the charging cable

An intelligent battery management system automatically controls charging with electricity.

Tip 5: use apps or charge timers

Apps and charging timers add real value to your electromobile life and provide customized charging solutions on a small scale. Use the right apps or features in your electric car to stop charging before the battery is fully charged.

Charging an e-car properly Woman uses smartphone charging app

take advantage of apps for the best possible charging experience – whether at home or on the road.

In this case, full charge does not mean 100 percent, but the ideal state of 80 percent. In addition, you are able to adjust the timing to your needs. If you charge overnight at your own charging station, control the start of the charging time so that charging is not completed until shortly before departure. So your vehicle doesn’t have to stand still for hours while it’s being charged.

The vattenfall conclusion

Whether charging at home, on the road at a charging station, using a smartphone, or through technology built into the car: there are many ways to conserve the battery in your electric car. Even if you take a long trip on vacation or to visit relatives with a 100 percent full charge, you don’t need to worry about your battery. After all, the life of a lithium-ion battery is eight to ten years, or. 800 to 1.000 charging cycles. With a little attention to the little things and a passion for electromobility, driving an e-car will quickly become a relaxing experience for you.

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Christina Cherry
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