2023 set a record for the number of incidents on the roads. And in all of these incidents, the starter battery remains by far the most common cause, even more so in winter when temperatures drop and combustion engines require more power from the battery.
In fact, battery manufacturer Clarios explains that 12V batteries in the first generation of electric cars reach the end of their useful life after four to five years and need to be replaced.
One of the main causes of failure is what is known as “deep discharge”, where the starter battery requires more energy than its capacity allows. It can also occur if the battery is not charged properly, for example if the car is left without power for a long period of time, or if the 12V battery is not sufficiently charged by the high voltage battery during a driving cycle.
Another reason for failure is to be found in the regular system updates on electric vehicles. These draw power from the 12V circuit. In addition, in many xEVs, the traction battery is switched on several times during the update, or the car is constantly activated for other reasons, which also puts a heavy load on the starter battery.
If this happens several times without the battery being recharged, it is often impossible to unlock or start the car. This is the case, for example, when the car is parked for several weeks during a holiday and regular updates are received.
To avoid overcharging the traction battery in winter, it is best to park the car in a garage overnight. This is also good for the 12 V battery. It is also advisable to preheat the electric car only when it is connected to the charging point, otherwise the range will be reduced. In most cases, the heat is provided by the power from the socket, so less heating is needed during the journey. More efficient seat and steering wheel heating is often sufficient. This reduces the load on the traction battery.
It should be noted, however, that some car models still run hot on the 12V battery during charging. If this is discharged before the traction battery is fully charged, the charging plug cannot be removed, as this function is controlled by a control circuit powered by the 12 V battery.
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