What happens if you occasionally charge a 60V battery with a 72V charger?
2 Answers
Using a 72V charger to charge a 60V electric vehicle may result in incomplete charging, inability to charge, or slow charging speed. Vehicle charging is divided into two types: slow charging and fast charging. Slow charging generally takes 10-12 hours, while fast charging takes 0.75-1 hour. When the output voltage exceeds 72V, the battery will not charge and will rapidly heat up, causing water loss in the battery, accelerating battery degradation, or even directly damaging the battery, rendering it unusable. Chargers with different output voltages and those designed for different battery types must not be mixed. The correct operation for a switch-mode power supply charger is to connect the battery first before plugging in the mains power when charging, and to disconnect the mains power first before unplugging the battery when charging is complete. If the battery plug is removed first during charging, especially when the charging current is high (indicated by a red light), the charger can be easily damaged. When using a charger to charge a battery pack, first insert the charger's output plug into the battery pack's charging socket, then plug the charger's mains input plug into the AC power socket. After charging is complete, unplug the mains plug first before removing the charger's output plug.
A fellow car enthusiast of mine occasionally used a 72-volt charger to charge his 60-volt battery. At first, he thought it wouldn't cause any issues, but later the battery aged extremely quickly. The main problem was that the higher voltage led to overcharging, which easily damaged the internal plates and accelerated the decomposition of the electrolyte. Over time, the battery capacity significantly decreased, and it even risked bulging or leaking. Although an occasional use might not immediately ruin the battery, the cumulative damage is substantial, especially during the high temperatures of summer, when the risks are even higher. It's advisable not to take shortcuts by using mismatched chargers for convenience. A charger with the correct voltage saves money and hassle while protecting battery life and ensuring safe driving. Always check the charger's specifications to avoid regret later.
