Battery reconditioning for electric cars is a way to save money needed to service the vehicle. It also allows a worn-out car to regain its original range. From reading this text, you will learn how a car battery is diagnosed, how much it costs to regenerate it and how to avoid its premature degradation.
Battery reconditioning for electric cars - what is worth knowing?
Electric car batteries, commonly referred to as batteries, work in the same way as cells installed in electronic devices. Just like batteries in smartphones or laptops, they degrade over time. The battery life of an electric car then decreases. The result is that the distance that can be driven on a single charge becomes shorter and shorter. The cell also needs to be recharged more and more frequently.
The phenomenon of car battery degradation is therefore not unique. Nor is it the only part in a car that needs to be replaced regularly. This applies to both electric and combustion cars. An example of a component that needs to be replaced periodically is the engine battery. The oil also needs to be replaced from time to time.
In the case of car cells, fortunately it is not always necessary to buy new parts. It is not uncommon that repairing them can suffice. With the increase in the number of electrics in Poland, battery reconditioning for an electric car is an increasingly popular service in workshops. Importantly, its cost makes it cost-effective. The amounts that need to be spent on it will be discussed later in the text. 
What is the remanufacturing process for electric car batteries?
Battery reconditioning in electric cars starts with a detailed diagnosis of the vehicle. This is because it is not a foregone conclusion that the cause of a low cell capacity is a fault in the battery. A fault in the air-conditioning system or in the inverter, i.e. the device which changes direct current into alternating current, can also lead to it.
If, as a result of diagnostics, the service technician has determined that the battery is responsible for the loss of capacity, he will proceed to replace it. In this case, however, this does not mean dismantling the entire component and inserting a new one. Battery reconditioning for an electric car usually involves the replacement of one or more cells.
Why is it usually only necessary to replace one or a few cells? Because it is rare for all of them to fail. However, they cannot be replaced separately. They are grouped into modules. The service technician in the workshop tests each one in turn.
A voltage drop in one of the cells is diagnosed in two ways. First of all, it manifests itself in a faulty module. A faulty cell can also be seen by the fact that functional modules produce a voltage lower than the correct voltage. At the same time, the temperature of each of them rises. This is due to the fact that they are working behind the module with the defective cells. 
Does it pay to remanufacture batteries for electric cars?
Reconditioning car batteries is cost-effective in the vast majority of cases. It is almost always cheaper to repair than to fit a new part. And the cost of buying a new battery can be very high. Depending on the model of vehicle and its brand, it can be an expense of up to several tens of thousands of zlotys. In some cases, this amount is even as high as PLN 100 000.
Repairing electric car batteries is not cost-effective in virtually only two situations. The first is to have a service package. With the purchase of a new electric car, the owner receives a warranty of several years for the car from the manufacturer. This includes services such as vehicle maintenance and tyre changes. Installation of a new battery is also part of the package. The warranty period may vary between car manufacturers. It is usually eight years.
Electric car battery reconditioning is also not cost-effective if you own a very cheap vehicle. However, it must be said up front that this applies to a very small range of cars. This basically includes only one-person vehicles such as the Citroën Ami, which costs £26,000. Assuming that the price of this car drops significantly after a few years of use, it may turn out that this vehicle will be little cheaper to repair than it is actually worth.
What is the cost of reconditioning batteries for electric cars?
Battery reconditioning for electric cars is an expense from £3,000 upwards. The final cost is influenced by the make and model of the car, the size of the battery and the type of failure. The latter criterion refers to how many cells have broken down and therefore how many modules need to be replaced.
How to prevent rapid battery degradation in an electric car?
Although the cost of repairing a battery is relatively small compared to buying a new one, it is still worth reducing the risk of damage. First and foremost, it should not be subjected to extreme temperatures. Parking it in the sun or frost for several days is a simple way to spoil it. Degradation also occurs through excessive use of the car's maximum performance.
In addition, it is a good idea to pay attention to the messages displayed by the on-board computer. It is also a bad idea to charge the battery too often using a rapid charger. This should be a last resort in emergency situations. On a day-to-day basis, it is far better to charge the cell with less power, e.g. from a domestic power socket.
Battery reconditioning for electric cars is an affordable service. This is good news for all those drivers who do not have a manufacturer's service package. Whatever the cost, it's worth taking care of your battery to make sure it lasts as long as possible and that driving an electric car is a pleasure, not a chore.
