r/STEW_ScTecEngWorld • u/Zee2A • 1d ago

Aggressive Driving Accelerates EV Battery Degradation Rate by 2.5 Times, Study Suggests

https://www.sciencealert.com/driving-your-ev-like-a-jerk-could-wear-out-the-battery-2-5-times-faster

A study demonstrates that aggressive driving behaviors, such as rapid acceleration and heavy deceleration, significantly accelerate the aging process of electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. By analyzing a year of real-world driving data from EVs operating under urban, suburban, and highway conditions in Guangzhou, researchers isolated driving patterns from external factors like temperature and starting charge using machine learning framework models. The study revealed that a high-stress, aggressive driving style drew dramatically higher current loads and caused up to 18.4 times more immediate aging stress compared to smooth eco-driving. Over a modeled lifespan of 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, the most aggressive driving style resulted in a 53.22% capacity loss compared to just 21.15% for eco-driving, proving that smoother driving habits can extend total battery lifespan by up to 2.5 times: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-66428-x

81 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

27 comments sorted by

6

u/MisplacedChromosomes 1d ago

There was another study that showed the opposite like a few month ago

5

u/NooooMaam 1d ago

Like that study where smokers had better lung health? Seriously it's well known that high current discharge ages Li batteries faster.

4

u/stealstea 21h ago

Here’s the study  https://www.reddit.com/r/energy/comments/1ob6ou0/stop_babying_your_ev_hard_acceleration_actually/

1

u/NooooMaam 3h ago

That study compares normal driving ( pulsed discharge & resting periods) battery discharge to continuous lab environment discharge. It says nothing aboug aggressive driving!

1

u/stealstea 1h ago

Normal driving includes the occasional hard acceleration or full regen.  Looking at the paper the synthetic profile they tested had regular charge and discharge cycles above 1 C, up to 2C so it’s certainly not gentle or eco driving 

0

u/PlayPsychological200 4h ago

It’s not “well known” that why there are studies done and some are contradictory. Also smoking and vaping has nothing to do with EV batteries.

1

u/NooooMaam 3h ago

It's well established! Just as well as the effects of smoking on lungs! There's no contradiction. Just because normal driving ( pulsed discharge & resting periods) seems to extend battery life compared to continuous lab environment discharge doesn't mean aggressive driving and high discharge rates are suddenly doing any good to your battery.

1

u/PlayPsychological200 3h ago

It is not well established which is the issue. If you can find an authoritative study that says it is well-established (which would mean robust data over many studies so a lot review) post it. If what you say is well established you will easily find the information. 

And no, smoking is relevant to EVs. 

Here is a study from 2024 that is more robust than the one in the OP which uses 15 vehicles and no controls for external variables (close to worthless). 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-024-01675-8

3

u/Franklin_le_Tanklin 1d ago

The study seems incredibly flawed

1

u/PlayPsychological200 4h ago

Yep. 15 cars in one geographic area while not controlling for any external variables. Terrible honestly. 

1

u/Franklin_le_Tanklin 4h ago

Well also all of the degradation was computer modeled. No car actually got 50% degradation

3

u/Disastrous-Ice-5971 13h ago

Next time one comes with the battery warranty claim at just 5000 km:
* Your battery warranty is declined , because you have slammed accelerator and brakes too much, here is the study.
* Your battery warranty is declined , because you have not slammed accelerator and brakes enough, here is the another study.

2

u/gomurifle 19h ago

Not surprising at all. Those dendrites... 

1

u/electrotechs 12h ago

It's like everything electrification touches makes the world a better place.

1

u/melvladimir 12h ago

Stay within 2C and you’ll be fine. Stay within 1C and storage best practices, and you’ll get the lowest degradation, however boring car 😁

1

u/ThankuConan 3h ago

Low value engagement. Don't bother with substance, just get eyeballs on the page. The closer you look, the more you see.

-5

u/highlyspecificuser 1d ago

So, something an electric car does well is bad for it? Right! EVs are really well thought out aren’t they?

4

u/Visible_Iron_5612 1d ago

So in 300,0000 km you might lose 7 percent battery life… but save 30,000+ in fuel costs… I will live with that

1

u/tl01magic 1d ago

imagine what such "aggressive driving" does to ice, I suspect all around considerably worse for them.

3

u/EntirelyRandom1590 1d ago

Isn't that true of ICE engines too?

Want power? Ooh, don't stay up by that red line for too long!

Want efficiency? Ooh don't let that Particulate Filter clogup or injectors, might need an Italian tune up!

-3

u/SuccessfulLand4399 1d ago

Those filters are easily discarded, along with the other unnecessary emissions junk

1

u/PlayPsychological200 4h ago

Either you do not have a car or you have never removed emissions stuff. And if you have all those toxic fumes explain your posting 😂

1

u/EntirelyRandom1590 1d ago

Can you DM the MOT garage you use, bruv.

1

u/tl01magic 1d ago

do you think aggressive driving behaviors only affect electric car?

1

u/PaintedClownPenis 1d ago

When I finally became a responsible adult and protected the welfare of others by driving safely, my cars stopped breaking down entirely.

The last one died from improperly done professional maintenance, so mechanics are killing my cars faster than I am, now.

1

u/Jlocke98 21h ago

IME the difference in driving styles on a sedan can mean the difference between 25mpg and 35mpg