Not a week goes by without a press article, a comment on social networks or among those around us criticizing the reliability of electric vehicles. Battery life and battery life are the most common criticisms. Very often, the criticism comes from people who do not have an electric vehicle.
A 2016 Tesla Model S used by a British taxi driver has covered almost 700,000 kilometers in 8 years. That’s the equivalent of 17 revolutions around the Earth! But the most surprising thing is the state of the battery after traveling such a distance.
In fact, an in-depth analysis of the battery by an independent expert showed that it still retained nearly 77% of its initial capacity. This is a remarkable figure that defies the expectations of many experts. How to explain such results? The driver favored slow charging cycles on traditional terminals rather than the fast charging offered by Superchargers.
The latter, although extremely practical for long journeys, place heavy demands on the batteries due to the high current intensities. Over the long term, these rapid charge cycles can degrade battery performance.
This case study highlights the importance of charge management to optimize the lifespan of an electric battery. If fast charging is essential for certain uses or for long journeys, slow charging, which is gentler on the battery, is preferred for daily use.
This news shows us that electric batteries still have a lot of potential and that appropriate charging practices can considerably extend their lifespan.
Here is the video of the complete test.