Extending the life of your electric car's battery

Photo: Julie May

In brief:
- Battery life is extended if it is charged slowly at home with Level 1 or 2 chargers (either overnight or with solar panels) and keep super fast charging use to long trips.
- The battery lasts longer if it is kept between 20-80% charged, this is sufficient for most daily local commutes. The 100% charge can be used for long journeys.
- It is best to buy an EV that has an active thermal management system for the battery, i.e. a battery well insulated with both a heating and cooling system for cold and hot weather, respectively. The passive battery thermal management systems are cheaper but not recommended.

See full details at: Steps you can take to extend the life of your electric car’s battery. Drive Zero, April 5, 2018.