Electric car battery: how they work, charging, and more.

What do you know about electric car batteries? How do they work? How long do they last? Complexe VW 440 in Laval, your Volkswagen dealer near Terrebonne, Montreal-North and the North Shore of Montreal, tells you all about the batteries that power electric cars!

How long does it take to charge an electric car battery?

On the market for some 30 years, the lithium-ion battery was first introduced into the field of electronics before branching out into other markets such as the automotive industry.

This battery is actually made up of individual battery units called cells, which are connected to each other. Their number, size and arrangement depend on the size and power of the battery.

How long does it take to charge an electric car battery?

It all depends on the type of charging you use! The less power you have, the longer it will take to recharge.

There are currently three levels of electric car battery charging:

• Level 1 [home charging]: 120 V, in many cases requiring more than a day to fully charge the vehicle.
• Level 2: the most popular, at 240V, and also the one used at almost all public charging stations. Many electric vehicle owners also have one at home. Charging times depend on the model of vehicle, but generally, you can expect to recharge at an average rate of 40 kilometers per hour, sometimes more.
• Level 3: These are fast DC charging stations that allow 80% of the charge to be recovered in about 30 minutes. Some electric vehicles can be fully charged in 60 to 90 minutes, but it is important to note that some vehicles are not designed to handle this type of charging station.

How long does an electric car battery last?

Most car manufacturers offer an 8-year or 160,000 km warranty on their electric vehicle batteries. We notice that most car manufacturers offer an 8 year or 160,000 kilometer warranty on their electric vehicle batteries. While this gives us a good estimate of their duration at maximum capacity, this number will change considerably depending on the number of times the vehicle is recharged.

In fact, the loss of capacity can reach about 2 to 3% per year, and even more if it is charged very frequently. It is better to say that the average life of a battery is between 1,000 and 1,500 recharge cycles, depending on the vehicle and the capacity of the battery.

At this point, the battery is still fully functional, as it will still deliver 80% of its capacity on average and can be used for many years to come.

When to change the battery of an electric car?

Unless something goes wrong, you probably won't need to change the battery in your electric vehicle.

How much does an electric car battery cost?

There is a great disparity between the prices of vehicles depending on the make and model, and the same is true for their batteries. For example, an article published in Le Soleil in 2021 estimates that the price of an electric car battery can vary between $5,000 and $15,000.

How are electric car batteries made?

There are several steps involved in building a battery. First, the raw material must be extracted to make the cells that make up the batteries [lithium, nickel, aluminum, cobalt, etc.].

Then, the battery cells are built, with 3 components: the anode, the cathode and the electrolyte. Once the cells are built, they can be assembled to form the actual battery, which will be installed in the vehicle.

Are electric cars environmentally friendly?

Manufacturing a car, whether electric or gas-powered, has an environmental cost, but the cost is decreased if we consider the life span and use of an electric car.

However, it is fair to say that the production of batteries for electric cars generates pollution, due to the extraction of minerals. This being said, in Quebec, the advantages of electric vehicles are undeniable, especially since electricity is a clean and renewable energy!

Also note that the production of batteries for electric cars is a fairly new technology. With research and development, as well as the growing popularity of these vehicles with zero emissions, there is no doubt that we will develop manufacturing processes that are much more environmentally friendly.

Conclusion

Volkswagen Canada offers all-electric models, namely the Volkswagen ID.4 and the upcoming Volkswagen iD.Buzz and Volkswagen ID. Aero, with more to come in the next few years.

To learn more about electric car batteries, our electric or gas models, our special offers or our Volkswagen financing plans, come see us at the Complexe VW 440 today!