EV batteries could last longer under real-world driving conditions than previously estimated, offering significant cost and sustainability benefits.
Electric vehicle (EV) batteries can outlast earlier predictions by up to 40%, as revealed in a recent study by the SLAC-Stanford Battery Center, a collaboration of Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Researchers found that dynamic driving behaviours, including frequent stops, acceleration, and idling, can significantly slow battery degradation have compared to lab-based testing conditions.
Traditionally, battery tests have relied on constant charge-discharge cycles to estimate lifespan. However, this method does not fully capture real-world driving scenarios. “We’ve not been testing EV batteries the right way,” said Simona Onori, senior author and associate professor, Stanford. By incorporating dynamic discharge profiles into their tests, the team uncovered a more optimistic picture of EV battery durability.
In the study, 92 commercial lithium-ion batteries were subjected to four discharge profiles—ranging from constant discharge to patterns mimicking realistic driving conditions—over two years. Results showed that realistic profiles slowed degradation, with short, sharp accelerations and intermittent resting periods contributing to longer battery life. Contrary to prior assumptions, high acceleration peaks did not accelerate aging. “Pressing the pedal with your foot hard does not speed up aging. If anything, it slows it down,” explained Alexis Geslin, a lead author and PhD student, Stanford.
The findings target a wide audience, including individual EV owners, fleet operators, and automakers looking to enhance battery efficiency and lifespan. Commuters navigating heavy traffic or undertaking long road trips, as well as researchers and manufacturers focused on battery innovation, stand to benefit from this discovery. The study underscores that time-induced aging, rather than cycling, becomes a predominant factor in battery longevity for personal EVs, where batteries are often idle for extended periods.
By identifying a balance between time-based and cycling aging, researchers suggest manufacturers could update EV battery management systems to optimise performance under real-world conditions. Beyond EVs, the principles from this study could also enhance the durability of other energy storage technologies, such as solar cells, biomaterials, and energy systems relying on aging-prone components.
“This interdisciplinary approach opens new doors for innovation,” Onori said, emphasising its broader implications for sustainable technologies.
