Fast Charging vs. Slow Charging: Which Method Benefits Electric Car Batteries and Range?

There's a lot of curiosity surrounding whether fast charging or slow charging is more beneficial for increasing the driving range of electric cars. Recurrent Auto, a used car company in the United States, recently conducted a study to shed light on this matter. Let's delve into the study's findings regarding the impact of charging methods on electric car range.

 

The study demonstrates that statistically, there isn't a significant difference between fast charging and slow charging in terms of driving range impact.

 

According to Recurrent Auto, which analyzed data from over 12,500 Tesla electric cars in the United States, there is statistically minimal difference in driving range between fast charging and relatively slower charging.

 

Many electric car users have concerns that frequent fast charging might degrade battery performance faster over time. This apprehension often stems from a general unease surrounding the frequent use of high-speed charging. However, the study by Recurrent Auto reveals that there's not a substantial statistical difference in driving range degradation between DC fast charging and AC charging.

 

Comparing cars that were charged at least 90% of the time with fast charging to those charged less than 10% of the time with fast charging, the study found negligible differences in the reduction of driving range between the two charging methods.

 

In fact, analyzing data from 4,400 Tesla Model Y vehicles and 6,300 Tesla Model 3 vehicles over 1,000 days showed that there was not a significant difference in the reduction of driving range between vehicles that frequently used fast charging and those that rarely used it.

 

This suggests that the strong thermal, voltage, and battery management systems integrated into electric cars protect the battery from substantial harm during routine fast charging.

 

However, for long-term battery performance, factors beyond charging method are also important. Extreme temperatures and excessively low or high state of charge, for instance, can impact the battery.

 

To maintain the battery's longevity, it's crucial to utilize pre-conditioning functions in extreme temperatures. This ensures the battery reaches an optimal temperature before connecting to the charging connector.

 

Additionally, it's advisable to avoid fast charging when the state of charge is extremely low or high. In such cases, the battery's resistance increases, leading to additional stress.

 

In conclusion, increasing an electric car's driving range requires consideration of various elements beyond charging method, including battery management and temperature. The study demonstrates that statistically, there isn't a significant difference between fast charging and slow charging in terms of driving range impact. Users should choose an appropriate charging strategy considering their driving habits and environment.