The transportation and logistics industry is currently undergoing a fundamental shift in an effort to become more sustainable. Central to this shift is the transition to electric fleet vehicles (EVs). Fleet electrification is accelerating rapidly, a trend that will only intensify as the urgency of the climate crisis deepens. This is no longer a distant prospect, it is a present reality that calls for immediate action.
Yet, these modern vehicles introduce new uncertainties for fleet managers, particularly regarding the health and degradation of EV batteries. Much like mobile phone batteries, EV batteries deteriorate over time, prompting questions about their longevity and the implications for fleet performance and operational efficiency. This guide addresses the key concerns fleet managers are now facing.
What is EV Battery Degradation?
Battery degradation refers to the gradual and permanent reduction in a battery’s ability to store energy. In other words, its power capacity diminishes over time. This is a natural and unavoidable process, driven by the physical and chemical changes that happen within the battery’s lithium-ion cells, which begin to degrade from the moment they are manufactured.
The term state of health (SoH) is used to describe the current condition of a battery. Expressed as a percentage, SoH indicates how much energy the battery can still deliver, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A new battery starts with a 100% SoH, which steadily declines throughout its lifespan.
It’s important to note that SoH does not directly equate to vehicle range. Several other factors determine how far an EV can travel, including driving behaviour, cargo load, use of auxiliary systems, charging habits, and environmental conditions.
How do EV Batteries Degrade?
EV battery degradation occurs through two primary processes: calendar ageing and cycling ageing.
- Calendar ageing: Refers to the gradual decline in battery performance over time, even when the vehicle is not in use. It is influenced by factors such as temperature, the battery’s charge state, and the duration it remains idle.
- Cycling ageing: Results from the repeated charging and discharging of the battery during regular use.
Both forms of degradation are inevitable, which understandably raises concerns for fleet managers. Usually, an EV battery is considered to have reached the end of its useful life when its state of health (SoH) falls to around 70%.
However, many batteries continue to function reliably beyond this point. In addition, most EVs are backed by long-term battery warranties, offering reassurance over the vehicle’s operational lifespan.
How Long Does an EV Battery Last?
EV batteries generally last around 10 years or 100,000 miles. That said, providing a definitive answer to this question is challenging, as battery longevity depends on several interrelated factors. Influences on battery degradation include:
- Frequency of use.
- Driving style (e.g. speed, acceleration, braking).
- Ambient temperature and climate.
- Typical state of charge (e.g. regularly kept near full or low).
- Age of the battery.
- Frequency and depth of charging and discharging.
As a result, the long-term health of a lithium-ion battery can vary significantly between vehicles and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Although, treating an EV with care, such as avoiding excessive fast charging, maintaining moderate charge levels, and driving smoothly, will almost certainly extend its lifespan.
Does EV Battery Health Impact Depreciation?
Given that vehicle acquisition and disposal are key areas of focus in fleet management, a relevant question is whether battery health affects an EV’s residual value.
Consider two vehicles in otherwise similar condition: one with a battery at 70% state of health (SoH), and the other at 90%. In this instance, the vehicle with the healthier battery would command a higher value. This highlights the importance of having reliable fleet data on battery condition because a lower SoH doesn’t always tell the full story. For example, a battery with fewer rapid charging cycles may degrade more slowly and retain greater long-term value.
It’s also worth noting that lithium-ion battery costs, the most expensive component of an EV, continue to fall. This benefits fleet managers when it comes to resale or repurposing. Moreover, these batteries often have a valuable second life in domestic and industrial energy storage applications, further extending their usefulness beyond the vehicle itself.
Can Fleet Managers Extend EV Battery Life?
Yes, since battery degradation is heavily influenced by usage, fleet managers play a crucial part in preserving EV battery health. As fleet electrification advances, so too does the supporting technology.
Modern fleet management systems now integrate thermal management features that help ensure batteries are charged only within optimal temperature ranges. This is important, as high temperatures dramatically accelerate battery degradation.
Additionally, best practice involves maintaining batteries at a moderate charge level (around 80%), avoiding full discharge or consistently using rapid charging, both of which shorten the lifespan of an EV’s battery.
With the availability of cloud-based fleet management software, these insights are now easily accessible, demonstrating that effective EV battery care simply requires the right tools. We at MICHELIN Connected Fleet are proud to be leading the way in EV fleet management.
Our solutions are geared to increase the battery health of electric fleet vehicles for the long term, so that sustainability coincides with efficiency. If you’re interested in how our fleet management solutions can help, then be sure to make an enquiry into our services today.
.svg)
.png?width=600&height=400&name=MCF%20Content%20Image%20(9).png)
-1.png?width=461&height=443&name=ses_pictograms_ecosystem%20partners_black%20(002)-1.png)
.jpeg?width=301&height=341&name=Untitled%20design%20(95).jpeg)
