Can EV Batteries be Replaced or Upgraded?
After producing television news for years—much of it centered on national and international car shows—Lindsay transitioned to freelance writing, where she quickly gravitated toward automotive technology. She frequently contributes to sites like AutoTrader, AutoGravity, Lending Tree, and CarMax.
Battery anxiety is a real thing for drivers of electric vehicles. While most EV batteries today live very long lives, it’s inevitable that some might need to be replaced or upgraded at some point. Here’s what you should know about EV battery options.
What Types of EV Batteries Exist Right Now?
There are four main types of batteries that exist today:
- Lithium-ion batteries (the most common),
- Nickel-metal hydride batteries (used more often in hybrid vehicles, but also power some EV vehicles),
- Lead-acid batteries
- Ultracapacitors.
These batteries haven’t changed much but, fortunately, newer and faster ones are being developed that could appear on the market in the not-so-distant future.
On the horizon
NAWA Technology’s Ultra Fast Carbon Electrode, which is like a battery booster, is said to be one of the fastest batteries in the world. It can up a battery’s power tenfold, increase energy storage, and boost the lifecycle of a battery up to five times.
Another option in development is a lithium-ion battery that uses a hefty amount of nickel (instead of costly cobalt) for its cathode.
Toyota is testing a solid state battery that uses sulfide superionic conductors that can completely charge or discharge in under 10 minutes (ideal for electric vehicles).
Another tech gaining traction are zinc-ion batteries, which function very similarly to lithium-ion batteries, but use water as the electrolyte. Lithium-ion uses a flammable electrolyte. Science Direct says zinc-ion batteries have been attracting attention because of their safety, environmental friendliness, and lower cost over lithium-ion batteries.
What’s the Point of Changing Out Batteries?
As the owner of an electric vehicle, it’s tempting to think that switching out the battery might amass a handful of benefits, even though an electric battery should last between 10 – 20 years before needing to be replaced (the majority of EV manufacturers have an eight-year/100,000 miles or 10 years/150,000 miles warranty on their designated battery).
Consumer industry experts report the average EV battery pack’s lifespan is approximately 200,000 miles.
Maybe you’re looking for a more powerful battery, one made of more sustainable materials, or a battery made from safer components. But it’s not as simple—or straightforward—as you might think.
Smart EQ Fortwo Review
The Smart EQ is the perfect car for city driving – compact, easy to drive and pure electric. The limited range will be an issue if you need to do longer journeys, but at least it charges quickly.
“Urban disturbance with limited range. The EQ is a great little city car, but that’s all it is with a realistic 70-ish miles of juice available. Still, it’s only got a little battery, so if you opt for the 22kW home charger by bp pulse that’s part of the deal, you’re looking at a swift 40 minute charge time.”
“It may not be cheap but this cute, compact, two-seater is built for city-living where it’s modest range makes sense. You can whizz around town, saving money on parking, congestion charges and fuel and it’s tiny dimensions mean it’ll get you into the tightest parking spots every time.”
A tiny battery means the Smart isn’t great at long distance drives, but it charges quickly, especially at one of the new 22kW points.
- Range: 74-84 miles (WLTP)
- Battery: 17.6kW
- Three pin socket (230v three-pin): 11 hrs
- Home/public AC charging 20-80% (7kW AC): 3 hours 5 minutes
Range
The Smart’s official range of between 74 and 84 miles isn’t going to convince any long-distance diesel drivers that this is the car for them. But for other owners who just do the average commute of less than 20 miles a day and rarely go near a motorway, it could be perfectly adequate. Like all electric cars, that range will depend on all sorts of factors and will be less if you drive quickly or the weather is particularly chilly. Driving in stop-start traffic in towns actually improves the range though, so if you are just doing short urban journeys you might not need to plug in for several days.
With only 17.6kWh, the Smart’s battery is tiny. It’s about the third of the size of the powerpack fitted to a Peugeot e208, and is even smaller than those fitted to plug-in hybrid SUVs such as the BMW X5. But the Smart isn’t a very big car so the battery still provides a reasonable enough range, despite the pack being about the same size as a holiday suitcase.
Like most electric cars, the EQ has the battery stashed underneath the floor to keep it safe and to make sure the centre of gravity is kept low. As the Smart is quite a tall car, this doesn’t affect the passenger space too badly.
Charging
The advantage of the Smart’s tiny battery is that it can be charged really quickly. A full charge at home or a public point will take three to four hours, meaning you’ll easily be able to get to 100% if you charge at work.
There’s no option to do DC Rapid charging as it doesn’t really need it. If you are wanting a top up while venturing further afield, you’re best looking out for one of the new 22kW AC chargers which are popping up at public points. That’ll get to 80% in under an hour and should be cheaper to use than a DC Rapid charger too.
Smart EQ Fortwo Review
The Smart EQ is the perfect car for city driving – compact, easy to drive and pure electric. The limited range will be an issue if you need to do longer journeys, but at least it charges quickly.
“Urban disturbance with limited range. The EQ is a great little city car, but that’s all it is with a realistic 70-ish miles of juice available. Still, it’s only got a little battery, so if you opt for the 22kW home charger by bp pulse that’s part of the deal, you’re looking at a swift 40 minute charge time.”
“It may not be cheap but this cute, compact, two-seater is built for city-living where it’s modest range makes sense. You can whizz around town, saving money on parking, congestion charges and fuel and it’s tiny dimensions mean it’ll get you into the tightest parking spots every time.”
A tiny battery means the Smart isn’t great at long distance drives, but it charges quickly, especially at one of the new 22kW points.
- Range: 74-84 miles (WLTP)
- Battery: 17.6kW
- Three pin socket (230v three-pin): 11 hrs
- Home/public AC charging 20-80% (7kW AC): 3 hours 5 minutes
Range
The Smart’s official range of between 74 and 84 miles isn’t going to convince any long-distance diesel drivers that this is the car for them. But for other owners who just do the average commute of less than 20 miles a day and rarely go near a motorway, it could be perfectly adequate. Like all electric cars, that range will depend on all sorts of factors and will be less if you drive quickly or the weather is particularly chilly. Driving in stop-start traffic in towns actually improves the range though, so if you are just doing short urban journeys you might not need to plug in for several days.
With only 17.6kWh, the Smart’s battery is tiny. It’s about the third of the size of the powerpack fitted to a Peugeot e208, and is even smaller than those fitted to plug-in hybrid SUVs such as the BMW X5. But the Smart isn’t a very big car so the battery still provides a reasonable enough range, despite the pack being about the same size as a holiday suitcase.
Like most electric cars, the EQ has the battery stashed underneath the floor to keep it safe and to make sure the centre of gravity is kept low. As the Smart is quite a tall car, this doesn’t affect the passenger space too badly.
Charging
The advantage of the Smart’s tiny battery is that it can be charged really quickly. A full charge at home or a public point will take three to four hours, meaning you’ll easily be able to get to 100% if you charge at work.
There’s no option to do DC Rapid charging as it doesn’t really need it. If you are wanting a top up while venturing further afield, you’re best looking out for one of the new 22kW AC chargers which are popping up at public points. That’ll get to 80% in under an hour and should be cheaper to use than a DC Rapid charger too.
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Noel McKeegan joined New Atlas as a founding member in 2002. He has travelled extensively throughout our long history, covering major science and technology events around the globe and helping build our exceptional editorial team.
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Now this is a Smart car! A zero emission commuter car that you can drive around in pretty well all day. Does anyone know what the price will be?
An electric car is not a zero emission car. Because of mechanical and electrical losses along the way, the power plant must conservatively burn three gallons of fuel for you to obtain the equivalent of one gallon of energy for your vehicle. That triples the use of fossil fuels for a non-nuclear or non-hydroelectric powerplant, causing even more pollution than if an efficient automobile were to just use the same fuel itself.Feel-good solutions like electric automobiles serve only to reveal the tragically failed reasoning we are indoctrinated to accept today. How about we really work on solving the problem?
Rockin robbins you are way off. An EV goes 3-6x\’s as far on the same base fuel as an ICE. From a NG cogen powerplant an EV will go 6x\’s as far as a NG or gasoline, diesel car can go.I drive a 600mpg equivalent and a 250mpge EV\’s that cost 25% to run vs a similar ICE. The fact I can go downtown and back for 30 for 30 miles proves the low running costs, high eff of EV\’s. Deal with it.Google part throttle eff, ect and you\’ll find gas cars only are 7% eff of their fuel while EV\’s are 20-65% eff from their base fuels. And in our energy expensive, short future, that will win. Plus driving EV\’s is so cool in so many ways.
Rockin Robbins. you are right of course.However it\’s all about money ie TAX. Cannot replace fuel Tax from the home power. Sooooo, hydrogen fuel is what they will replace petrol with. Same service station (gas station) controlled by the same companies etc. The Government still gets it\’s Tax. wait more tax because. yes. it\’s feel good green. The sooner the better.Why the WEST has not done so years ago beats me.on security issues alone, let a lone the stink and pollution.
-Rockin Robbins-Your first point is absolutely correct. An electric car is not a zero emission vehicle. Unless the power is generated by wind, solar, hydro or nuclear, the power source must produce some atmospheric emissions. As an experienced engineer, however, I\’m afraid most of your following Комментарии и мнения владельцев leave me bewildered. Perhaps you can enlighten me. Where on earth did you get the idea that centrally generated electricity is less efficient that burning gasoline in an internal combustion engine? And where did that 3 gallons to 1 gallon fantasy come from? Sources, please. (And Talk Radio Show Hosts do not count. )The generation and distribution of AC power is one of the most efficient means of power production ever devised. George Westinghouse, Nikola Tesla, and Charles Steinmetz were freakishly brilliant and well ahead of their time.Lets look at your \’mechanical and electrical losses along the way\’; Stationary power plants are significantly more efficient than autos. Gas turbines are at least twice as efficient as an automobile engine. (A gasoline internal combustion engine used in an automobile is typically only 20% to 40% efficient. That\’s an 80% to 60% loss, with most losses appearing as heat due to the inherent conflict of the carnot cycle.)Electrical transmission losses? In 2007 the average electrical power transfer efficiency for the entire US grid was 94.5%. That\’s an average loss of only 6.5%Your Petroleum Industry inspired arguments have routinely appeared quoted as fact and have just as routinely been debunked as myth over the past 50 years.I find myself agreeing with you on your quote about blindly accepting \’tragically failed reasoning we are indoctrinated to accept today\’. I wonder if the arguments you present fall squarely within that definition.I\’ve been waiting patiently for widely available electric cars since I first saw one in the early \’70\’s. I realize they aren\’t practical for everyone, but I suspect that they are a lot more practical for a lot more people than most believe.