These 10 mistakes threaten electric cars while charging

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As with all new technologies, the advent of electric mobility – more than every six new cars is now an electric vehicle – raises new questions. If you switch from a combustion engine to a newly bought electric car, you must first get used to it and you will often make mistakes when charging, for example: But this is not good for the battery and the budget. Blick explains the biggest charging mistakes and how this can be done better at the charging station.

As with the smartphone, the battery needs to be operated in the range of 20 to 80 percent charge for the purpose of life. A deep discharge—especially below five percent—and a full charge—especially above 95 percent—are practical on long trips, but should remain the exception. And: Do not park the vehicle for a long time with an almost empty battery.

Rechargeable batteries are designed for a certain number of charge cycles and each insertion initiates a new battery. Frequent charge cycles shorten the life of the battery, as do frequent cold starts of an internal combustion engine. So it’s better to go from 20 to 80 once than to charge only 20 percent of the capacity three times in a row.

Generally, fast charging (there are exceptions) places more stress on the battery than slow charging. Manufacturers’ wall boxes are ideally adapted for an optimal and gentle charging process – and it is cheaper, especially since the loss of charge is much lower than with a fast charger.

The confusing price structure of many providers is a real barrier to e-mobility: Numerous tariff models, hard-to-find information, or roaming charges from a third-party provider – similar to calling abroad – are real cost traps. . So a full battery can be almost as expensive as filling up a gas tank.

Anyone who does not generate electricity on their own, for example using solar energy, pays for it. But you can usually recharge for free – you just have to ask or google: Many hotels, companies or stores offer free charging stations to their customers.

You only make this mistake once – but even this time it’s better to avoid it: the charging cables are usually in the compartment under the floor of the luggage compartment. Like warning triangles and the like, cables should be stowed within easy reach. Even if you packed the luggage for the holidays. After all, some models have a so-called trunk with a small cargo area under the front hood, into which the cables fit.

It can be not only inconsiderate, but also expensive: Charging stations must be emptied when charging is complete. Otherwise, providers usually impose penalties of up to one franc per minute shortly after the end of charging. By the way: You are not allowed to go uncharged at charging stations.

Some newer electric cars (eg Skoda Enyaq and related Stromer from the VW group) can be programmed to release the charging plug after charging is complete. With two areas in one charging station, someone else can charge before you hit the road again.

Almost any e-car can be programmed to charge while plugged in at home. So you can use the low tariff of the electricity network. For example, charging per 100 kilometers will only cost three francs instead of five.

You tend to charge too early when traveling, especially if you’re not very confident in range. However, if the battery level is still too high, the charging capacity will sometimes drop significantly, and then the charging process will sometimes take twice as long as indicated in the brochure. By the way: if you use the navigation system to plan charging stations, modern e-cars perfectly prepare the battery temperature for fast charging.

Source: Blick