How do electric vehicle batteries degrade over time?

Electric vehicle batteries get tired and slower over time, just like you after a long day at school.

Imagine your battery is like a big jar full of tiny energy balls, each one represents power the car uses to move. When the car starts, these balls are all fresh and full of energy. But every time the car goes on a trip, some of those balls get used up and start to shrink.

Like a Sack of Candy

Think of it like this: you have a sack of candy that gives you energy for playtime. Every time you go to the park, you eat some candies, they’re still there, but not as full. After many trips, your sack has less candy, and each piece is smaller. That means your car doesn’t go as far or as fast as it used to.

Sometimes, the battery also gets a little confused, like if you forget where you put your toys, and can't find the energy balls as easily. This makes the car feel slower, even on short trips.

But don’t worry! Just like you can recharge after naptime, electric vehicles can be recharged at home or at special stations to get those energy balls back to full size, for a while anyway!

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Examples

  1. A car's battery is like a sponge, it gets used up over time, especially when you charge it too much or too little.
  2. Battery degradation happens because of repeated charging and discharging, like using a phone until it dies every day.
  3. When the battery in an electric vehicle loses power, it can't drive as far on a single charge.

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