As the adoption rate of new energy trucks in the logistics and transportation sector continues to increase, their advantages of energy conservation, environmental protection, and low operating costs are becoming increasingly prominent, gaining favor among more and more truck drivers.
However, during daily vehicle use, many drivers have misconceptions about battery system maintenance, and improper operation can even accelerate battery performance degradation, leading to shorter driving range, increased maintenance costs, and ultimately affecting operational efficiency.
This article will analyze two common misconceptions about battery maintenance and propose scientific and reasonable maintenance suggestions to help truck drivers truly achieve “safer driving and more economical battery use.”
1. Over-protection can damage the battery.
In daily operation, some truck drivers, out of concern for battery lifespan, habitually keep the battery level between 20% and 80%, or even deliberately avoid fully charging it.
While this practice reflects adherence to the principle of “avoiding overcharging and over-discharging” to some extent, long-term implementation can have unexpected negative effects.
In fact, lithium-ion battery packs consist of numerous cells connected in series and parallel. Over time, slight differences in voltage and capacity will appear between the cells, known as “voltage differentials.”
If full charging is not performed regularly, the Battery Management System (BMS) will struggle to effectively calibrate and balance the state of the cells. Voltage differentials may gradually widen, ultimately affecting the actual usable capacity and performance output of the entire battery pack, thus accelerating overall degradation.
Scientific maintenance recommendations suggest that maintaining the battery level between 20% and 90% is reasonable in daily use, but according to the manufacturer’s technical manual, the battery should be fully charged to 100% every certain period—for example, every three days or after a certain mileage.
This process helps the BMS recalibrate the cell conditions, bringing the voltages closer together, thereby maintaining the overall health and performance stability of the battery pack.
2. Range is not the only indicator
Many truck drivers are accustomed to judging battery status by the vehicle’s displayed range, believing that only a significant decrease in range warrants attention.
However, reduced range often indicates some degree of internal battery damage, not the beginning of a problem.
The health of a battery system depends not only on its total capacity but also on the consistency between individual cells. Excessive voltage drop, increased internal resistance, and uneven temperature distribution can all affect battery performance in the early stages, but these changes may not immediately be reflected in the range figures.
If these problems are not identified and addressed promptly, they can accumulate, eventually leading to a significant decline in battery performance and even safety hazards.
The following methods can be used for preliminary assessment and monitoring of battery status:
1. Utilize the battery health report function provided by the vehicle’s infotainment system. Some models support viewing differential pressure data and health percentage.
2. Observe the individual cell voltage information on the dashboard. If abnormal fluctuations or significant differences are found, professional testing should be performed promptly.
3. Regularly visit a service station to have professional diagnostic equipment read complete battery data, including key parameters such as differential pressure, temperature consistency, and internal resistance changes, to achieve “preventive maintenance.”
