The spread of electric vehicles has made them a standard means of transport for many city dwellers. Yet electric vehicle batteries often run into trouble. What is going on? In fact, most batteries on the market pass the quality requirements, so the problems largely come from use and maintenance. Careless charging, in particular, shortens battery life. Many people who have just bought a battery want to maintain it well. So how should a new battery be charged for the first time? Must it be fully charged at once? Must the power be completely used up before charging? Should the first charge last 24 hours? Here is the answer from Xupai!

1. Use up the power but do not exhaust it

A new electric vehicle battery is neither fully charged nor nearly empty, unless it is an old or inferior one. In use, estimate the possible riding distance according to the seller figures to avoid running out of power or over-discharging. When the display falls to the last bar, stop riding and get ready to charge.

2. Avoid charging indoors; charge outdoors whenever possible

An electric bicycle battery gives off combustible gas while charging. So never charge in a narrow, sealed environment. Choose a ventilated, waterproof place with a moderate temperature. A charging pile in the residential area is the best choice.

3. If conditions allow, charge during the day so the charging time is easy to control

Everyone knows the first charge should be a full one, but full does not mean overcharged. Charging in daylight makes the time easy to control, so the battery will not be overcharged or over-discharged at its first use, and its first chemical reaction proceeds normally.

4. Five or six hours is enough; avoid overcharging

As for the duration of the first charge, a factory-fresh battery has not gone through charge and discharge cycles yet, and its normal operation must be ensured. Generally the first charge takes about 5-6 hours, just enough to fill the battery, and later charges can be a little longer. Daytime charging helps you control the time. After the battery has been used for half a year, it is recommended to deep-discharge it once a month and then charge the battery again with the time controlled at 12 hours, which greatly helps restore the capacity.

5. How much power should be left before charging? It depends. Under normal conditions, when the vehicle does not often carry passengers or climb long slopes, charging when 30%-50% of the power remains is best, avoiding both early capacity loss and over-discharge. If you often carry passengers or climb, it is recommended to charge at 50%. If you ride very little and have used less than 60%-70% of the power in a week, a charge now and then is enough. If the vehicle stays outdoors or unused for a long time, self-discharge will drain the battery, and a discharged state seriously affects its life, so it is recommended to charge once a month.

6. Is the more frequent the charging, the better? It also depends. Frequent use with frequent charging is right in principle: charge every day after riding. But if your battery can run 30 kilometers and you recharge it after only 5 or 10 kilometers, that does it no good. A fully charged battery gives off gas, which comes from the decomposition of water in the electrolyte, so every full charge loses water. Frequent charging increases water loss and the battery enters its failure period sooner. A better practice: if you will not ride the next day, charge it fully; but if after 5 or 10 kilometers there is still enough power for tomorrow ride, wait until after tomorrow ride to charge. That reduces water loss and extends battery life.

7. Keep caring after the first charge

After the first charge it is no longer the first, but the second charge is still a break-in charge for a new vehicle. At that time, wait until the power is nearly used up and then give it a long charge of 8, 9 or even 10 hours, so the chemical reaction inside completes a full cycle. This tip came from an electric vehicle seller.

8. Always keep safety in mind

During the first charge the charger may heat up quickly and get very hot. Especially in summer, do not place the charger on objects that easily heat or burn, and preferably not on the vehicle seat either, to prevent fires. Burning accidents have happened while charging, so please pay close attention.

All in all, the maintenance of an electric vehicle battery is very important. The charging method directly affects battery life, and improper charging can even cause fire hazards. Vehicle owners should pay more attention in daily use.