The battery is the most important component of an EV (Electric Vehicle), that's why it's important to know how to care for an electric car battery.
Moreover, countries in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, tend to have a tropical climate where hot weather sometimes hits all year round.
On the one hand, overheating is a condition that can drastically reduce battery life. That's why Electrek shares tips on how to care for electric car batteries so they last longer.
1. Get used to Parking in the Shade
Parking an electric vehicle in the shade or a roofed room will certainly make the vehicle's temperature more stable and the battery won't overheat.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, when a battery-based electric vehicle is parked in direct sunlight, it will cause the battery temperature to increase significantly.
2. Be careful when charging the battery
Another trick that must be done when treating electric vehicle batteries is the matter of the battery charger.
When charging, it's best not to be fully charged, aka 100%, but just 80%, because it turns out that if you frequently charge the battery more than 80%, it can shorten battery life.
Then don't let the battery completely run out of electric power, make sure when the battery condition is 20% it is immediately charged to extend the life of your EV battery.
3. Correct AC settings
Saving battery usage can also be from the habit of setting up a careful air conditioning (AC) system. Make sure the AC is set to standard conditions, don't get too cold because the battery will work extra, and the car's cruising range will be shorter.
If the car has been parked in an open space and the cabin feels hot, then you should first open the doors and all the windows until the cabin temperature returns to normal, then start driving, so that the air conditioner doesn't work extra hard.
4. Always Check Tire Pressure
When the weather is hot, the surface temperature of the asphalt also increases drastically which causes the tire rubber to expand. In this condition, the tire pressure may drop slightly, causing the EV battery to work harder than usual.
For this reason, it is important to always check tire pressure according to the vehicle's manual, or the information on the sticker in the driver's door area.
5. Don't use fast charger too often
The last thing as a way to care for electric car batteries is to avoid DC fast charging, especially during hot weather.
If you want to fill it with fast charging facilities, choose a time when it is not too hot, for example at night or in the morning, or a facility that is located inside a building so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.
