When replacing the battery in an electric vehicle, which type has the longest lifespan, how many years can it be used, and what should be considered?

The battery is one of the most important components of an electric vehicle. It not only affects the vehicle's range but also impacts its overall lifespan. When replacing an electric vehicle battery, which type lasts the longest, how many years can it be used, and what should be considered? Let's clarify these points comprehensively.

An Introduction to Electric Vehicle Battery Types

First, let's get acquainted with the current types of electric vehicle batteries. Generally, they are divided into three main categories: lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries, and sodium batteries.

Lead-acid batteries can be further divided based on the materials used into regular lead-acid batteries, graphene batteries, carbon crystal batteries, digital batteries, etc. Lithium batteries are mainly categorized into ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Since other types of batteries are used less frequently, we will mainly discuss the three most common types: graphene batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, and sodium batteries.

Which Battery Type Has the Longest Lifespan When Replacing Electric Vehicle Batteries? How Many Years Can It Be Used, and What Should Be Considered?

Let's look at which among graphene batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, and sodium batteries has the longest lifespan, how many years they can be used, and what issues to watch out for during use.

Graphene Battery

Although the current graphene batteries differ from what people might imagine as "true graphene batteries," they have indeed upgraded lead-acid batteries. Firstly, they have increased the lifespan of lead-acid batteries from 300-400 charge-discharge cycles to 600-800 cycles, effectively doubling the lifespan to around 3-4 years.

Additionally, graphene batteries have improved energy density; a 20Ah lead-acid battery can be upgraded to 23Ah with graphene, effectively increasing the range. Graphene batteries also support fast charging, reducing charging time, and have better cold resistance, making them less affected by low temperatures in winter.

Since graphene batteries are still a type of lead-acid battery, you should be mindful of the following aspects to avoid affecting battery life:

1. Do not charge the battery daily; if the capacity is insufficient, replace it with a larger one promptly.
2. Charging time should not exceed 10 hours; generally, charge for about an hour after the green light indicates full charge.
3. Charge the battery when the level drops below 30%, and recharge at regular intervals even when not using the electric vehicle for extended periods.

Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery

Although ternary lithium batteries have a higher energy density, their stability is not as good as lithium iron phosphate batteries. Therefore, most electric vehicles currently use lithium iron phosphate batteries, which have a charge-discharge cycle count of 1000-1200 cycles, allowing them to last 5-6 years.

Lithium iron phosphate batteries have the advantages of high energy density and light weight, reducing the weight of the electric vehicle and ensuring it doesn't exceed weight limits, while also increasing the range. These batteries also support fast charging and can be fully charged in as little as three hours.

Due to the lower safety and stability of lithium batteries, pay special attention to the following points when using them:

1. Always use a compatible lithium battery charger, as using an inappropriate charger may cause fire.
2. Do not overcharge when charging lithium batteries, and avoid high temperatures as they may cause fires.
3. Slow down on rough, bumpy roads, as excessive movement can reduce battery life and even cause fires.

Sodium Battery

Sodium batteries are a new type of battery, currently used in only a small number of electric vehicles. However, they have a charge-discharge cycle count of 1500, making them the battery type with the longest lifespan, potentially lasting up to 10 years even with charging every two days.

Although the energy density of sodium batteries is not as high as lithium iron phosphate batteries, it is much higher than lead-acid batteries, making them relatively lightweight. Additionally, sodium batteries can be charged to 80% in just 15 minutes. They maintain 95% of their capacity in winter, even at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius, showing excellent cold resistance. Furthermore, sodium batteries can be discharged to zero volts without affecting normal use.

Summary

Currently, the most commonly used batteries are graphene batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries, and sodium batteries. Among these, sodium batteries have the longest lifespan, exceeding 10 years, making them one of the most ideal electric vehicle batteries. Next are lithium iron phosphate batteries, and finally, graphene batteries, which can only be used for 3-4 years.