Tricks to Prolong Battery Lifespan

HEAT is the biggest enemy, as many have already sounded off about. Obviously, parking in a situation that will cook the car should be avoided. I face the windshield toward the sun and place a reflective insulated shade in the window. Cracking the windows is also a sensible idea. While driving, take advantage of the A/C. It's remarkably efficient. When you're comfortable, the battery will be too. Remember, it uses cabin air to cool itself. Heat contributes to aging.

DRAW RATE is another very helpful longevity suggestion pointed out. That's good advice that's easy to overlook. You should keep the draw from the battery low. See the bar on the Eco-Meter higher means you're putting greater demand on the battery. Speed doesn't matter either. 60 mph is no big deal if you're only using a small amount of power. Acceleration from a stop is the heavy-hitter. Avoid that by taking advantage of the engine. Don't be afraid to press the pedal hard. The engine will shut back off surprisingly after it's been warmed up.

COLD SOAK is something you can do to prolong battery-life as well. A battery ages from stress of use, that includes the charging process, not just usage. Toyota made this easy by providing a recharge timer. Many owners don't realize the benefit it provides though. Allowing the chemicals within to cool & rest after use is what "cold soak" refers to. If you will be plugging in immediately after use, use EV upfront and finish off your driving in HV mode. That way, the battery is only used lightly prior to recharging.

CHARGE LEVEL is an aspect of battery-life you don't have to be concerned about. 100% (the "FULL" level) is what most owners won't ever encounter. Recharging automatically stops at 85% and that's all the higher the indicator shows. That 15% buffer at the top protects the battery. 23.5% (the "EMPTY" level) is when the plug-supplied electricity is fully depleted. That protect the battery at the bottom, preventing deep-discharge from ever happening. So unless you routinely drive down mountains after plugging or drive after having run out of gas, there's no reason for concern.

 

Also living in the Northern part of the US with our cool falls and springs and cold winters. Although the cold can decrease the amount of electric range from the battery, it actually increases battery life. This is also true if your battery is nickel based as well.


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Ah! So your happy with the snow and cold yesterday? Three feet? or 30 inches?

 

. Ha ha no snow. But it was about 54 yesterday. Comfortable gardening and working on the graves. 66 today dry and sunny.


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don't quick charge (Eight Tips to Extend Battery Life of Your Electric Car | PluginCars.com)

 

The PHV battery draws the air frim the cabin to cool it. If thr cabin temp is too hot for you, it is as well for the battery. Use the AC.