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What is the battery an electric car?
The essentials
- The drums are the centrepiece of the electric car.
- There are different types of battery that can make an electric car functional.
- The capacity of a battery is expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- Lithium-ion batteries are currently the most popular and effective.
- The higher the battery capacity, the more kilometres your electric car will cover.
Battery cycle and life
La battery life is assessed on the basis of the charging and discharging cycles it undergoes, starting with itsautonomy starting point. A cycle corresponds to its charge from 0 to 100%. If the battery is only charged to 50%, then only half a cycle is reached, not a full cycle. An average of 1,000 to 2,000 cycles are estimated before the battery starts to deteriorate. That's 200,000 km to 500,000 km travelled, which can extend its life by 10 to 15 years if the vehicle is driven 20,000 km a year.
This information about battery capacity and the number of cycles reached at any given time is shown on the electric car's dashboard.
This lifespan is specific to each vehicle: the rate at which the battery ages will vary according to your vehicle. driving and other external conditions. The lifespan of an electric battery can therefore range from 8 years for most models, to 10 to 15 years for more specific, powerful or better-maintained models, but also to less than 5 years if driving and conditions go beyond what the battery can withstand.
Electric car batteries on the market
Lead batteries
Lead batteries, one of the oldest on this list. These are batteries with high propulsion power. They are used mainly in electric cars, which require a great deal of power. Lead batteries do, however, have a number of disadvantages. Too bulky, heavy and unable to withstand deep discharges, they are gradually being banned from the market, as they no longer really meet the needs of modern electric vehicles. What's more, they wear out fairly quickly, after 20,000 to 40,000 km. They were found in the Citroën AX and Peugeot 106 models.
Batteries Nickel Cadmium
Following the European directive 2002/95/EC These batteries are no longer on the market either. Made up of substances classified as dangerous, their use has been limited, despite their great range, undeniable reliability and the advantage of being quickly charged. However, unlike lithium batteries, they could be stored for a very long time without their energy capacity diminishing. With a range of 70 to 90 km, they were mainly found in PSA electric cars (Citroën AX, Saxo and Berlingo, Peugeot 106 and Partner), especially during the 1995 to 2005 generation.
Sodium-nickel chloride batteries
Introduced to the market in 1990, these electric car batteries were found in the most modest car models and were manufactured as an alternative to NICD technology. NICD is a rechargeable electric battery based on nickel cadmium hydroxide electrodes. It is available at low prices and, when combined with the battery, still offers great autonomy. These batteries could not exceed a certain degree of overheating, between 270° and 350°, after which they lost capacity and could not be used for days.
- Charge-discharge efficiency: 70 to 90 %
- Number of charge cycles1500 cycles
- Rated voltage per element: 1,2 V
- Service life24 to 36 months
- Self-discharge: 10 % to 20 % /month
- Energy/weight40 to 60 Wh/kg
- Energy/Volume50 to 150 Wh/ℓ
Lithium-metal polymer batteries
LMP batteries are one of the technologies currently being widely used for electric car mobility. Their success is justified by the fact that they are extremely safe to use and last longer than lithium ion batteries. Reserves of this substance are partly exploited in Latin America and China. These batteries have great advantages and are up to the challenge of the future, but they have a weakness when it comes to potential overheating, and can deteriorate if they are not used with care. A wintering mode is also available, and the vehicle will be just as functional even after a long period of inactivity.
Lithium ion batteries
Now it's time for the Lithium ion batteriesThis type of electric battery is even more widespread on the market than lithium-metal polymer batteries. This battery has a number of beneficial aspects, starting with high voltage, but above all a very balanced ratio between energy density, weight and price. Ranked among the first on the market, Lithium ion batteries can be found in most of today's models, such as the Nissan Leafthe Renault Zoe E-Techthe Tesla Model S and the Tesla Model Xor the Smart EQ ForTwo Coupé.
The price of an electric car battery
What criteria determine the price of a battery?
Replacing the battery in an electric car can be a very expensive operation.
Its price depends mainly on its energy capacity in kilowatt-hours, which determines its range. The greater a car's range, the higher the cost of changing the battery. In 2015, the purchase price of the battery was even higher than the production cost of the car.
Despite this, the market means that these prices will fall considerably, firstly thanks to the drop in the cost per kilowatt (kW), which fell between 2010 and 2018 from €1,037 to €160, and will continue to do so, estimated at €90 in 2024. Secondly, the cost of lithium, which is produced in large quantities, has fallen significantly.
For more information, please consult this study on the specificity and price comparison between lithium ion batteries and older lead-acid batteries.
How much does an electric car battery cost?
As you know, the price of an electric car battery depends largely on its power.
According to some manufacturers, if the price of the battery exceeds the initial cost you had planned to invest, you have the option of leasing it. At Renault For example, buying a battery outright could cost you up to €32,000, while leasing it would be €8,000 cheaper.
Secondly, when it comes to the price of the battery in a Nissan electricreplacement can amount to around €11,000. If we look at the price of a battery for a CitroënThey are on sale a minimum of €13,000. The manufacturer Teslahas been working since 2020 to reduce the price of its electric cars. Today, the price of a battery for a Tesla electricity can cost you less than €10,000.
So it's an expense to be reckoned with!
However, some dealers offer warranties of up to 7 years. These warranties can be effective if the battery wears out early, especially as this is a very rare occurrence.
Replacing the battery in an electric car
When should an electric car battery be replaced?
The capacity of the batteries varies according to the manufacturer and the power they have chosen to integrate into the vehicle. The range offered by Nissan and Teslafor example, is 80%. Over the course of multiple recharges, the battery will lose its capacity, falling to less than 75 %. This degradation process does not take place in the same way and the loss of energy is not instantaneous.
However, manufacturers Renault, BMW or even Nissan have understood the importance of this performance and have signed a contract to replace the batteries in their electric vehicles when the capacity of the accumulator is reduced to a specified percentage. This is usually between 60 and 70 %.
How do I replace the battery in an electric car?
If you have noticed a real reduction in the power of your electric car, you should visit your nearest authorised car dealer.
It's time for the diagnostic stage: replacing your car's battery is not a straightforward process. The dealer will first analyse the condition of your battery. If its condition meets the strict conditions for battery replacement, the dealer will call in a technician to remove the old battery and fit the new one. This will take between 1 and 5 hours. However, if the battery is not sufficiently worn, i.e. its recharging capacity is not less than 70%, then the dealer may refuse to replace your battery.
Manufacturers' warranties
The very high cost of batteries can sometimes be a real barrier to the purchase of an electric car, or to the purchase of a new battery for your car. That's why some brands have introduced warranty offers to minimise the cost of electric battery maintenance.
The most important step is to get the facts! In some cases, buying a new battery may not be effective, as it can be replaced by a battery that is more in keeping with the vehicle's age and mileage.
To avoid spending a fortune on a new battery, it's a good idea to have it inspected before the warranty expires. This will allow you to change or repair the battery in your electric car at no extra cost.
Here are the warranties that manufacturers offer:
When and why should you have your vehicle inspected?
- Before buying or selling a used car,
- Before the warranty expires,
- Before embarking on a long journey,
- To prevent breakdowns caused by mechanical faults,
- After a repair, if you have any doubts about the quality of the work carried out.
That's it! You now know how and when to replace the battery in your electric car.
