How to Take Care of DIY Electric Car Battery
The batteries on a homemade electric car are the most important element of the vehicle. Without it, the electric vehicle (EV) will not even move. Battery is the central focus because it supplies power to the electric motor. Hence, the battery bank is considered the backbone of the car and it is important to take good care of it.
The key function of the EV deep cycle batteries is to drive the electric motor and provide torque to the vehicle. There is also a supplementary lead acid battery to supports the car lights, horn and music system of the vehicle.
There are certain precautions which you can take to increase the lifespan of your electric car battery. For example, switch off the head lights when not required. You can also extend the battery life by driving smoothly and do not over speed especially while driving up hills. Stepping hard on the accelerator pedal will drain the battery quickly.
While driving for a long time continuously, the electric motor will drain the battery to a very low level. This is very harmful to the battery and best to be avoided.
All acid flooded batteries use distilled water. The water will react with the internal plates in order to produce electricity and supports the proper functioning of the battery. Avoid the use of the tap water as it contains impurities and these impurities will destroy the plates of the battery.
When pouring the distilled water, do not over spill the water as it will lead to loss of acid. If the water level is too low, it can damaged the electrodes of the battery. Therefore, you should check the water levels at regular intervals.
Service of the battery at regular intervals is necessary. Do not expose the electric car battery to flame because battery will produce hydrogen gas when charging and this can lead to fire or explosion.
If you need extra features on your electric vehicle such as air conditioning and a music player, you have to take good care of the supplementary battery also. So use the air conditioner and music system conservatively.
Do you need more tips on battery reconditioning guide? If you do, check out the Convert2EV electric car conversion e-book. Inside the manual, there is a complete chapter on deep cycle battery reconditioning tips.
By Will Yap