While an electric vehicle’s main source of energy is its high-voltage lithium-ion battery, there’s another essential component that often goes unnoticed: the 12-volt auxiliary battery.
Unlike traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles rely solely on this battery for:
The auxiliary batteries used are generally lithium-ion and have a much higher capacity than conventional batteries. This is because they do not need to power a starter motor to start an engine, but rather need to power long-range accessories.
Despite its impressive capacity, the high-voltage battery is no substitute for the 12V auxiliary battery. The high-voltage battery operates at much higher voltages, generally in the order of several hundred volts, whereas the auxiliary battery operates at the standard 12V voltage. A faulty 12V battery will prevent the vehicle from starting and operating, and risk getting stuck as you would with an internal combustion engine vehicle.
If you notice any of the following signs, it is important to resolve them quickly to avoid any further issues:
If your vehicle displays any of the above symptoms, we recommend that you have your auxiliary battery tested or replaced by a NexDrive technician and that you have the charging system verified. This requires professional equipment, as the high-voltage section of the vehicle must be accessed (defined by the orange cables in the engine compartment).
12V auxiliary batteries have an average life cycle of 3 to 5 years, like the battery in an internal combustion engine vehicle. We recommend replacing your battery at this interval. However, battery life depends on:
Here are the main points to consider for maintaining and extending the life cycle of your auxiliary battery:
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