In recent years, new energy vehicles have gradually become the choice for people to buy cars, but this has also brought up questions such as how many years the battery life of a new energy vehicle is and how much it costs to replace a new energy vehicle battery.
Almost everyone is eager to know the answers to these questions, so let's talk about it today.
Regarding the lifespan of new energy vehicle batteries, theoretically, they can last up to ten years or even longer. However, foreign media reports indicate that the current lifespan of new energy vehicle batteries is generally only about five years. This means that new energy vehicle batteries can only be used for about five years. After five years, the batteries begin to gradually degrade, the driving range decreases with each use, and eventually, they have to be scrapped and replaced.
Some new energy vehicle batteries are less than five years old, but their driving range has already decreased significantly. Previously, a full charge could travel over 300 kilometers, but now it only travels about 200 kilometers. Why is this?
1. Frequent fast charging. Many new energy vehicles support fast charging, so many car owners choose to fast charge to quickly charge their vehicles and ensure normal operation. Fast charging is a good feature, but frequent use of fast charging can reduce the battery's recovery capacity, thereby reducing the number of charge-discharge cycles and causing some damage to the battery.
2. Prolonged storage in low temperatures. Currently, the batteries for new energy vehicles on the market are mainly divided into two types: ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries. Although they perform differently when exposed to low temperatures, both types of batteries experience battery degradation when exposed to low temperatures.
3. Charge frequently when the battery is low. Since lithium-ion batteries do not have a memory effect, electric vehicles, like our smartphones, should be charged whenever needed, and you should try not to let the battery run completely out before charging.
4. Heavy acceleration. Because electric vehicles are known for their excellent acceleration, some drivers like to floor the accelerator for a powerful push. However, it's important to understand that high current discharge causes a sharp increase in battery internal resistance, and frequent driving in this manner can potentially damage the battery.
Currently, the batteries used in mainstream new energy vehicles are divided into ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries. Regardless of whether it is a ternary lithium battery or a lithium iron phosphate battery, the cost structure of the power battery consists of material cost + production cost. The current cost per kilowatt-hour of ternary 523 and lithium iron phosphate cells on the market is 486.96 yuan and 374.44 yuan/kWh, respectively. Considering the module, PACK and battery system, the total cost per kilowatt-hour of ternary 523 and lithium iron phosphate battery systems is currently 724.91 yuan and 612.40 yuan/kWh, respectively.
Including labor costs and other expenses, the final cost of replacing the two types of batteries is approximately between 1,100 and 850 yuan. Taking a 40 kWh battery as an example, the replacement cost for a ternary 523 lithium battery and a lithium iron phosphate battery is approximately 44,000 yuan and 34,000 yuan respectively. In other words, the higher the capacity density of the battery, the higher the replacement cost will be.
