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Preserve The Lifespan Of The Battery For Your Used Nissan Electric Vehicle

11 December 2015

Nino Clement

An electric vehicle can save you money on gas. However, if you are in the market for a used Nissan electric vehicle, you need to keep in mind that the battery in the car is not going to last forever and replacing these types of batteries can be pricey. Most have an estimated lifespan of 100,000 miles or eight years. But, there are a few things you can do to increase the lifespan of the battery. Here are a few tips for doing just that.

Don't Fully Charge the Battery

When most drivers set out to take a long trip,  they want to have the battery of their electric vehicle fully charged. While this may seem like the logical thing to do, it has an adverse effect on your battery in the long run. When you go to charge your vehicle, you will most likely leave it plugged in until you are ready to drive your vehicle. Leaving the battery plugged in will continue to expose it to electricity, even when it is fully charged. This electricity wears on the battery, and over time, decreases the amount of charge the battery can hold. If you do this repeatedly, your battery can reach such levels, that you need to replace it because it doesn't last as long as you need it to.

Limit Exposing the Car to Extreme Temperatures

If you live in a climate where temperatures reach freezing in the winter or scalding in the summer, it can be hard on the battery of your electric vehicle, and the lifespan of the vehicle may be less than it would be if you lived in milder temperatures. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about this. However, you can avoid the amount of time that the battery is exposed to these extreme temperatures. If you live in a place where temperatures are overly hot, consider parking in the shade to limit the exposure to the heat. If you live in a cold environment, consider parking your car in the garage or using a car cover to limit exposure to the cold. Limiting the amount of time the battery is sitting in extreme temperatures can help preserve the lifespan of your used Nissan electric vehicle battery.

Try Not to Completely Drain the Battery Often

The last tip for preserving the battery on your Nissan electric vehicle is to try not to completely drain the battery, when possible. The obvious reason for this is that you don't want to get stuck somewhere, much like what would happen if you were to drain a traditional vehicle of gas. However, this is not the only reason you should try to avoid draining the battery. When your battery is completely drained, and you begin to charge it, it may send voltage quicker to the battery and this could pose a problem. It may get too much energy too fast, which can lead to inconsistent charging in the future, Additionally, when you drain your battery, there is a lot of wear on both the battery and the charger to fully charge your battery again. You can prevent this wear by consistently using your battery about the same amount and not letting it fully drain.

There are many benefits to buying an electric vehicle. And buying a used Nissan one can save you some money. However, you need to be aware of the lifespan and costs associated with the type of battery used in these vehicles. Increasing the lifespan of the battery will prevent you from having to prematurely replace the battery. Not fully charging or draining the battery and not exposing your car to extreme temperatures are just a few of the ways you can maximize the lifespan of this battery type.

Contact a local professional, such as Western Avenue Nissan, for more information. 

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