Have you ever done rush eating? Like, when you don’t have enough time to eat but it’s very important to juice yourself up to work efficiently. Usually rush eating doesn’t have any direct disadvantages but it can compound into a big problem if you continue practicing the same each day. Have you ever considered a similar scenario about batteries?
If you rush such an enormous amount of energy into the batteries every day it can cause some serious internal degradation to the cells, and your Electric car battery may not last longer. But at the same time, it’s equally important to fast charge your EV to curb range anxiety and use your EV effectively. So, where does the gray area lie, what’s the most potent way to charge your EV and get the maximum out of it? Let’s dig into it and identify what’s cracking the fast-charging batteries and how we can prevent our batteries from dying quickly.
Fast Charging vs. Slow Charging:
You can relate fast charging with rush eating. While fast charging the EV, all the processes happening inside the battery like ion movement, chemical reaction, heat exchange, etc. get exponentially faster while in slow charging things happen slowly. While slow charging things happen uniformly and steadily making it a safer and most convenient way of charging from the point of view of the battery.
Here’s a brief breakdown of fast-charging vs. slow-charging and what are the stakes of using or not using electric vehicles:
| Fast Charging | Slow Charging |
| Comfortable for the user but tears down the battery from the inside. | Requires trip planning and patience but keeps the battery long-lasting |
| Put an enormous load on the grid | Put an adequate amount of load on the grid. |
| Require a costly setup to charge the vehicles | This can be done with existing infrastructure and nominal setup |
| The Cost of charging is very high | The cost of charging is low. |
| Highly recommended for long distances. | Not really recommended for long-distance travel. |
| The cost of charging is high (Sometimes higher than the fuel refueling) | The cost of charging is low. |
How ‘Fast Charging’ is killing your EV.
As mentioned earlier in the above section fast charging just accelerates the whole process of the chemical exchange which causes an insane amount of friction in ions and in turn, causes heat problems and thermal stress. Along with thermal stress, fast charging also causes improper (or) non-uniform charging. This means some cells get fully charged and some may remain partially charged. However, batteries and BMS nowadays are designed to endure that stress and solve such problems but still, regular fast charging can inflate such small issues and your batteries will run out sooner.
How to optimally charge your EV:
The rule of thumb for optimally charging your EV is charging it in a ratio of 3:1 of DC to AC charging. Long story short, you shouldn’t fast charge your EV on a regular basis but give it a break after frequent fast charging sessions and slow charge in between. Moreover, it’s recommended to fast charge only when extremely required. Like when you are on the go, on a long trip, or in an emergency but otherwise slow charging is the most favorable condition for the battery.
Because most of the time your car is parked or is standing ideally for the time enough to fully juice up the battery, which can be done for a lesser cost than fast charging.
Is fast charging hazardous?
Not really but it can be dangerous if done repetitively on a regular basis. Here are some of the worst-case scenarios that can happen if you continue fast-charging your EV without giving it a break:
- Accelerated Battery Degradation
- Capacity Fade: The repeated stress from fast charging can cause a phenomenon known as “capacity fade.” This means the battery gradually loses its ability to hold a charge, leading to decreased range and performance.
- Reduced Range: As the battery’s capacity decreases due to degradation, the EV’s range per charge will diminish. This can become a significant inconvenience for owners, especially if they rely heavily on their EVs for commuting or long trips.
- Safety Concerns: Excessive fast charging can lead to the growth of lithium dendrites on the battery’s anode, potentially causing internal short circuits. In rare cases, this could lead to thermal runaway and, though extremely rare, even fire or explosion.
- Increased Charging Time over Time: As the battery degrades, it may take longer to achieve a full charge, even with fast charging.
- Reduced Resale Value: A battery with significant degradation may reduce the resale value of the EV, as potential buyers will be concerned about the remaining lifespan of the battery.
- Expensive Battery Replacement: If the battery degrades to a critical point, it may need to be replaced, which can be a costly endeavor. This is especially true if the warranty no longer covers the replacement.
- Environmental Impact: Early battery degradation can lead to a shorter overall lifespan for the EV, potentially reducing the environmental benefits associated with using electric vehicles.
- Impact on Charging Infrastructure: Excessive fast charging can put stress on charging station components, potentially leading to increased maintenance and repair costs for charging networks.
- Inconvenience and Reliability Concerns: If the battery degrades significantly, owners may face more frequent charging stops and increased uncertainty about their EV’s range. This can be particularly problematic during long trips.
