‘I’m an EV expert – this historic electric car misconception is now a myth’

GB News guests debate using electric cars in 2022

Electric car batteries will not be worn out if drivers use rapid-charging bays, according to a leading expert.

Toddington Harper, CEO of EV specialist GRIDSERVE, warns that concerns around battery life spans are now a myth as technology has improved.

Some previous research has indicated that using frequent rapid charging could accelerate the loss of capacity.

However, Mr Harper now feels this is a “historic issue” as new tools now help prevent issues from arising.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said: “I think it’s a historical issue in reality. I think people think of a mobile phone and you think ‘oh my battery wears out quite quickly and it’s going to be the same for electric cars’.

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“But the thing that’s different is electric cars have really advanced battery management systems.

“Those battery management systems are designed to optimise the battery life so they control how quickly the vehicle can charge.

“Even if you put a really high-powered charger, the car will only take the level of power that’s acceptable for that battery.

“It’s called C rating, the C rating of your battery is the determinant for how quickly that battery is designed to charge.

“You now have the 4C battery which is the new type that’s just hit the market. They are actually designed from the beginning to be charged quickly.

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“That kind of historical issue is becoming less and less of a factor. The battery management systems are getting better and better but also the batteries are designed to be charged very quickly.”

Back in 2021, The European Battery Alliance (EBA) claimed the concept had been debunked.

They claim a study ‘Impact of Charging Rates on Electric Vehicle Battery Life’, published by Findings, showed the issue was not a major concern.

Although some batteries could be damaged by ultra-rapid charging, they claimed the Battery Management Systems (BMS) of the 10 most popular EVs (in the UK) effectively stopped this.

As a result, the EBA urged motorists to “go ahead and fast charge your car without worries.”

However, some electric charging providers are still sceptical and warn motorists to not make rapid charging a habit.

Biliti Electric warned: “Even though quick charging may not cause immediate harm to the battery, repeated and sustained use of fast charging might hasten the battery’s overall decline over time.

“Reduced energy storage capacity, a shorter range, and a higher frequency of battery changes can all be consequences of this degradation.”

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