How long will my lithium-ion battery last?

The battery of an electric car is in many ways the heart of every Stromer. Here you can find out how long the battery in your e-car takes you from A to B, whether quick charging shortens its service life and what you can do to conserve the battery.

How many charging cycles can the battery in my e-car manage?

The range and performance of e-cars is largely related to the size of their battery. Save modern e-cars between 40 and 100 kWh. The storage capacity of the car depends on the type of vehicle. According to Auto Bild, the Mercedes EQS has the furthest with a WLTP range of up to 785 kilometers. In a lighter small car, the number is significantly smaller. as default ranges of around 300 kilometers have leveled off in recent years.

A notice: WLTP stands for the English term “Worldwide harmonized Light vehicles Test Procedure” and describes a measurement method for determining the exhaust emissions as well as the fuel and electricity consumption of vehicles.

Even if e-cars differ in terms of their capacity, they have one thing in common: their batteries have to high loads withstand and for the entire life of the car. Manufacturers offer separate Battery Guarantees from 120,000 kilometers (Dacia) to 240,000 kilometers (Tesla) or a duration of 8 years. However, there is a high probability that your e-car will not run out of steam anytime soon.

Until about 2000 charging cycles withstand modern batteries without the charging capacity noticeably decreasing. Some lithium-ion batteries can even withstand up to 3000 charges. If we use the range standard of 300 kilometers mentioned above, we arrive at a theoretical distance of 600,000 kilometers.

Some Tesla vehicles already have over 800,000 kilometers covered. The cars were shut down, but the battery was never the problem (source: automobile week).

Save electric car battery: You can do that!

Fill up or drive empty?

In our sample calculation, we left out one factor: Fully charging is not ideal for the battery and should be avoided if possible. It is ideal to use the battery only up to 80 percent and load it more often.

At the same time you should replace the battery never fully discharged. As with your smartphone, the car feels most comfortable with a charge of 50-70 percent. However, as long as you avoid deep discharge, i.e. a state below 20 percent, you are doing the battery a great favor.

Does fast charging damage the battery?

While fast charging is very convenient, it should be replaced every now and then snore charge to be interrupted. Give your battery a break from time to time with a slow charge and it will thank you.

You can also do that with the wall box at home, such as that from The Mobility House intelligent battery management system make full use of your e-car. The automatic control ensures that your battery is charged particularly gently and evenly to the ideal value of 80 percent. The system also comes in handy when the ambient temperatures fluctuate.

Does the ambient temperature play a role?

Yes, those too outside temperature affects the energy tank. If you live in particularly cold areas, we recommend that you charge the car immediately after the journey. This is because the engine is still slightly warm and is easier to charge. It’s different when it’s hot. You can read about the effects of hot ambient temperatures on e-cars here:

Can I mothball my Tesla?

Longer downtimes can damage your e-car battery. If you already know that you will have to park the car for a long time, you should park it in a dry and sheltered place. Also make sure that the battery is about 50 percent charged. If the car has been parked for several months, you should occasionally check the battery and top it up to 60 percent charge if necessary.