Can the car be started while charging?
3 Answers
It is possible to start the car while it is charging, but doing so may damage the charger's capacitor and could also have a certain impact on the battery. Here are some related details about car batteries: Introduction 1: Generally, the lifespan of a car battery is about 2-3 years. A new car's original battery can last more than 3 years. If a car battery is discharged, it can lead to battery sulfation. Introduction 2: If the battery is severely discharged, it may even cause the battery to become unusable. Battery depletion also refers to deep discharge, where the voltage drops below 10.50V, causing sulfuric acid and lead plates to produce lead sulfate. Introduction 3: If not charged in time, lead sulfate can form crystals. Over time, these crystals will not decompose during charging, which is known as battery sulfation.
I think starting the car while charging is a bad idea. I remember once my old buddy's car sparked and nearly caught fire because of this. The reason is that starting the car requires a high current discharge from the battery, while the charger is still supplying power. The conflicting currents can cause wires to overheat, fuses to blow, or even damage electronic components. Modern electric vehicles are even more dangerous—if the high-voltage system is disturbed, it could lead to a short circuit or electric shock. I always remind people around me to turn off the charger before ignition to stay safe, preventing accidents and protecting both themselves and the vehicle. In traditional gasoline cars, though less common, starting while connected to an external charger might also affect the starter's lifespan. It's best to develop a good habit: start the car only after charging is complete or the connection is disconnected. This is crucial for driving safety—don't risk major consequences for minor conveniences.
From a technical perspective, starting the vehicle while charging is not advisable, as the starting mechanism relies on high-current battery power, while charging introduces external voltage. The current paths of these two processes may intersect and conflict, potentially causing system malfunctions. For hybrid or electric vehicles, although the control unit is designed to handle such scenarios, errors are prone to occur, leading to false error codes—for instance, sudden voltage drops affecting ECU calculations. My observation is that battery maintenance is crucial: frequent operations of this nature may accelerate battery aging, resulting in premature failure. Therefore, it's best to start the vehicle in a disconnected charging state to minimize equipment wear risks. In practice, owners should consult the manual and avoid cutting corners—simply disconnecting the charger before ignition suffices.
