Study: Fast charging has little impact on EV batteries
New findings reveal EV battery degradation caused by regular DC fast charging is minimalThe News
According to recent data collected by carsales, the biggest concern for prospective electric vehicle (EV) buyers is battery condition and frequent fast charging is thought to be a big contributor to premature degradation. Indeed, studies have shown lithium-ion batteries degrade over a long period of time but new research suggests it might not be as damaging as first thought.
The Key Details
- Significant degradation caused by frequent fast charging ‘debunked’ says Pickles
- Data suggests minimal impact on an EV’s battery from regular DC fast charging
- Less than 2 per cent difference in State of Health compared to AC charging
The Finer Details
The auction site analysed more than 800 electric vehicles to gather data and says it found minimal impact in battery State of Health (SoH) between EVs that had a “heavy reliance” on DC fast charging and those charged primarily via AC, citing less than two per cent difference.
Pickles’ analysis compared vehicles with minimal DC fast charging against those where 90-100 per cent of charging was conducted via DC, citing marginal health difference between them.
It said for EVs between two to four years old with moderate to high kilometres, the gap remained consistently below two per cent.
And its good news for apartment dwellers and metropolitan drivers that rely on public DC fast charging networks, says Pickles.
“Fast charging has long been seen as a risk factor, particularly for buyers without access to home charging,” Pickles general manager of Automotive Solutions Brendon Green said.
“What the data clearly shows is that modern EV batteries are far more resilient than many people assume – even when DC charging forms a significant part of daily use,” he said.
“This removes a major psychological barrier to EV adoption. Drivers who rely on public charging infrastructure can participate in the used EV market with far greater confidence.”
The research indicates stronger battery outcomes could be the result of Australia’s climate, which Pickles says minimises the extreme heat or cold (in most major cities) known to accelerate battery degradation overseas.
The Road Ahead
Several studies around the effects of fast-charging EV batteries have been conducted globally in the last decade, producing mixed results.
Last year, Redbook Inspect rolled out a new EV battery health testing service in a bid to improve buyer confidence in Australia’s used EV market.
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