Why are Some EV Batteries Better than Others?

So, you’re thinking about buying an electric vehicle, what is the main feature that will determine your day-to-day driving? It is the distance your EV battery will last on a full charge. It is the hottest topic, and it is why many potential customers have driving anxiety. While every brand will try to sell you the sun, moon, and stars to purchase one of their vehicles, they have spent millions producing. Sometimes, the real-life driving distance is significantly different from the manufacturer’s claim. Here, we break down the best and worst EV batteries and why, so that you have the most accurate information to make an informed decision. 

Fresh data for EVs this year, show that their batteries are becoming more stable and efficient as they now only fade, on average, approximately 1.8 percent every 10,000 miles. This is a vast improvement from earlier EV models.  Real-world studies show that how often the system is exposed to extreme temperatures, its battery chemistry, and its thermal design are integral parts of the stability and lifetime of an EV battery. 

Battery Chemistry: From NMC to LFP

The battery chemistry has changed from nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries to lithium iron phosphate batteries due to their affordability, increased safety, and greater life span. The new LFP batteries avoid cobalt and nickel, making them more environmentally friendly. It has low energy density and power, so they are most suited to day-to-day vehicles rather than performance EVs. 

Thermal Design and Battery Longevity

The thermal design of a vehicle includes the use of liquid-cooled systems that have a longer lifetime than the passive air-cooled ones. These more efficient systems take a longer time ot fade, but frequent use in a hot climate and infrequent use of the correct charging system, like ultra-fast chargers, will shorten their life. 

Also, the use of heat pumps can extend the driving range and keep the battery pack at its optimum temperature, so it can work at full capacity. A study that took place last year showed that the use of a heat pump in cold climates improves the driving distance of an EV by 8-10 percent, which delighted customers. 

When it comes to the top 20 used EVs and their battery degradation per 10,000 miles, three models took the top spots. The Model 3 RWD, Bolt EV, and Model Y Long Range are top of the leaderboards with only 0.24-0.35 percent due to a strong cooling system that has liquid cooling and heat pumps and an efficient battery management system. The batteries are made from lithium iron phosphate (LFP). 

EVs That Struggle With Battery Degradation

On the other end of the top 20 list are the Volvo XC40/C40 Recharge, BMW i3, and Audi e-tron, which have higher rates of 0.51-0.58% degradation. These rates are still less than the overall average, but they are at the bottom of the list for a number of reasons including having heavier batteries, older designs, and passive air cooling systems that struggle with temperature control and frequent use of rapid charging systems. 

Overall, many features determine what makes an EV battery a good long-term investment. Once you have done your research and are happy with your purchase, every EV is a dream to drive and is at the pinnacle of modern automotive design. To take a look at the full top 20 EV batteries, click here.