Does a newly installed battery need to be charged?
2 Answers
Newly installed batteries do not require charging. If going out or not in use for an extended period, charge it once a month. The charging time should be controlled at around 8 hours. Stop charging 1-2 hours after the charger indicator light turns from red to green, completing the charging process. After using the battery for half a year, discharge it once every month, then recharge the electric vehicle battery, controlling the time within 12 hours. When the battery's power significantly decreases or the electric vehicle charger does not switch lights during charging, distilled water needs to be added to the battery. Batteries should be inspected regularly. During use, if the electric bicycle's range suddenly drops by more than ten kilometers in a short time, it may indicate that at least one battery in the battery pack has issues such as broken grids, softened plates, or shedding of active material from the plates, leading to short-circuit phenomena.
When I last replaced my car battery, I specifically asked the experienced mechanic whether a newly installed car battery needs extra charging, and it depends on the situation. If the battery has been sitting in the warehouse unused since leaving the factory, its voltage might have dropped below 12 volts, in which case it must be charged to 14.4 volts with a charger before installation. My own lesson was last winter when I was lazy and installed it directly, resulting in dim dashboard lights during cold starts. Nowadays, with the advanced start-stop batteries sold in stores, you need to be even more careful. I’ve developed the habit of using a battery tester to check the voltage first—if the reading is below 12.5 volts, I dutifully connect it to a charger for a few hours. New car owners should remember not to just drive short distances; at least once a week, drive on the highway for half an hour to let the alternator fully charge it, otherwise the battery will die quickly.
