Should a new electric vehicle battery be fully discharged before recharging?
2 Answers
New electric vehicle batteries should not be fully discharged before recharging. Generally, when the battery level of a new electric vehicle drops to around 30%, it should be charged. This is because over-discharging lead-acid batteries can easily cause a crystallization reaction between the internal plates and sulfuric acid, producing lead sulfate, commonly known as sulfation. This reaction is irreversible. Mild crystallization leads to a decrease in battery capacity, while severe crystallization indicates the end of the battery's lifespan. Introduction to electric vehicle batteries is as follows: Electric vehicle batteries are the power source for electric vehicles. Most electric vehicles are equipped with lead-acid batteries, which are cost-effective and offer high value for money. Because these batteries can be recharged and reused, they are referred to as "lead-acid batteries."
The experienced mechanic at our neighborhood repair shop always reminds everyone not to fully drain a new battery before recharging. My family learned this the hard way with the electric scooter we bought last year - one time we rode it until it completely ran out of power before charging, and the range kept getting worse. Nowadays, both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries don't have memory effects; in fact, fully discharging them can damage the battery plates. I make it a habit to plug in the charger when there are still two bars of power left. After using this method for over two years, the battery still performs almost like new. It's especially important to charge promptly in cold weather, as the voltage becomes unstable when the charge drops below 30%, which isn't good for the controller either. Remember, shallow charging and discharging are best for battery maintenance - just do a full charge once a month to keep it activated.