SageBrush said:
What is "rapid" degradation ?
Anything that ends up with
warranty replacement is faster than rapid.
It's
defective (defective batteries can either die unexpectedly or degrade rapidly).
Except if not used according to requirements (Leaf manual does state cold limit, but not specific hot limit,
therefore, wherever vehicle is sold, any regular temperature upper end in that area is considered acceptable).
Rapid degradation should be one that ends up with
less than 80% of capacity in short period of 5 years (normal mileage).
It's very common in many areas to use 20:80 ratio, incl batteries. Nissan's 4th bar is their vague BS warranty limit.
Batteries, that keep
at least 80% for 5 years, can be counted in "
expected degradation" box. For now.
Batteries, that keep
at least 80% for vehicle lifetime (minimum 10, maximum 20 years according to 2013 vehicle lifetime statistics, though no less than 160 000km) can be called
lifetime batteries.
As of right now. Most Tesla's appear to have lifetime battery. Leafs have either defective, rapidly degrading or normally degrading batteries.
After Lizard upgrade there was some improvement, but far from normal in terms of worldwide sales.
80% limit is not the end. It's just industry accepted benchmark. To simplify, above that and battery is "used". Below that and battery is degraded (any preposition like: slightly, somewhat, moderately, heavily etc suits here too).
EDIT: warranty is usually about expected range not capacity. Some manufacturers use buffer zones.
It's possible to lose 30% of capacity but only 10% of range compared to new vehicle.
PS: Lifetimes and mileages are suitable for private passenger vehicles. Not commercial, heavy, taxi etc.
Legislators have not yet fully understood pollution of EVs. For example, ICE vehicles can't go worse than their pollution tier/class.
If it does, it doesn't pass MOT (in theory, corruption doesn't count here, either local, or something bigger, VW for example)
If EV can't regen nominally (Leaf khmkhm) it means vehicle efficiency is below expected (friction brakes used, more energy consumed etc). There are no rules. Yet. Vehicle production has a carbon footprint. Replacing batteries again and again makes it bigger. Manufacturers
might be tempted to use cheaper stuff in the name of profits and sacrificing real footprint compared to what's on the paper.
Therefore, in not so far future, when EVs/hybrids are the majority of new vehicles sold, things will be stricter.
PS: There are already hybrids (Civic, Prius) that have failed batteries "fixed". Honda did some "software" tweak that deleted the check-light on the dash so vehicle could pass MOT and warranty terms. But vehicle's fuel efficiency (emission tiers) due to dead battery were wrong. No problems. Yet.
It's just a matter of time. Due to lots of PHEV's coming in near future, I believe the snowball will start rolling from there.
First thousands of complaints from owners who can't get their promised electric range (crucial 80% from promised 20-50km) out of their short electric range PHEV vehicles within warranty period (5-years, 100 000km).
Chevy Volt has all that sorted out. It has massive upper-lower SOC limiters, that, AFAIK, expand during battery degradation to counteract lost range. Excellent example that all that can be sorted out reasonably. Otherwise, manufacturers will be tempted to do what smartphone industry does. My Samsung has charging limit set to 4.4V Excellent data on paper. Lost 30% of capacity within first year. And 20% more during second year. Cars have minimum lifetime of 160 000km or 8 years. Absolute minimum! ICEV, HEV, PHEV, RExEV, EV, whatever. Smartphones have minimum lifetime of 2 years. Even though things are mad in phone and HEV zone I believe it will not continue with real stuff (actual/meaningful EV range).
I'm pretty serious about that - hope it inspires some important people that might not have been informed yet :ugeek:
He's talking about multiple quick charges, combined with aggressive driving to pull power from the pack rapidly. One driver claims to have substantially improved his SOH by doing this.
Yes. I've also done that also many times. Rapid power flow triggers that often. Either long QC charge with warm battery or full speed driving for few minutes (literally, max speed). It's temporary, a week/month. Actual capacity doesn't change. GOM maximum range will. It doesn't matter. Except when you try to sell your vehicle.
Here is another one: If keeping SOC below 80% wouldn't have any benefits at all, Tesla's would not have a slider capable going down to 50%.