The hot summer is approaching, and temperatures are rising everywhere.
Another year of summer heat is about to arrive.
This unpredictable high-temperature weather
not only makes us sweat profusely while traveling
but also puts a significant strain on our vehicle’s battery.
Careful car owners may have already noticed
that battery endurance seems to change in high-temperature environments.
This is actually closely related to the battery’s State of Charge (SOC).
As a key parameter for measuring battery performance,
SOC directly affects charging safety and battery lifespan.
Today, let’s take a look at how to take good care of your beloved car in the summer!
01What is SOC?
SOC (State of Charge) is the core parameter of the battery management system, and its value directly reflects the charge state of the battery pack. We can intuitively represent the performance of different SOC stages using the liquid level in a cup:
SOC 100% – Equivalent to a full cup, indicating the battery is fully charged.
SOC 50% – Equivalent to a half-full cup, indicating the battery is at half charge.
SOC 0% – Equivalent to an empty cup, corresponding to the battery being fully discharged.
The SOC parameter has multiple guiding values for vehicle use: First, it accurately displays the remaining power, allowing you to have a clear understanding of your vehicle’s endurance; second, it intelligently adjusts the charging state to protect battery health; third, it automatically prevents the risks of overcharging or running out of power, making driving more secure. In simple terms, mastering SOC is like having the “health code” for your car’s battery.
02Battery Maintenance
To extend the battery’s lifespan, we need to pay attention to the following principles and methods in our daily battery maintenance and summer SOC management:
The golden rule for daily charging:
(1) It is recommended to adopt a “small amount, multiple times” charging mode, controlling the single charge amount to be between 80%-90%, allowing the battery to always operate in the optimal efficiency range of 20%-90%, which avoids overcharging pressure and prevents damage caused by long-term low power (<20%).
(2) It is recommended to arrange a slow charge maintenance for your car once a week, which not only ensures the accuracy of the battery’s power display but also allows the battery management system to complete precise SOC calibration.
Charging tips for hot days:
(1) Before charging, let your car “cool down”; it is recommended to turn off the engine and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, waiting for the battery temperature to return to normal before starting to charge.
(2) Avoid charging during the peak heat hours; choose the early morning or evening (06:00-10:00/18:00-23:00) as the “golden charging period,” and prioritize charging stations with shade to provide your car with a “sunshade.”
(3) After a long journey, let the battery “breathe”; it is recommended to wait for more than 30 minutes for the battery to cool down sufficiently before charging.
Battery system maintenance guide:
(1) Arrange a “battery SPA” for your car every quarter: it is recommended to perform professional battery balancing maintenance every 3 months to keep the battery pack in optimal working condition.
(2) Remember to “upgrade the brain” of your car: timely update the vehicle’s BMS system software to ensure the battery management system operates on the optimal version.
(3) Regular “check-ups” are essential: strictly follow the maintenance manual requirements and go to authorized service centers for professional inspections.
For older vehicles, regular full charges can avoid discrepancies in power display caused by battery degradation, effectively preventing the embarrassing situation of running out of power while driving.
Q1: How significant is the last 5% of battery power?
A: The last 5% of battery power mainly serves the function of system calibration, and its actual endurance value is relatively limited. Just like measuring the capacity of a container, the last few drops of water are significant for confirming the precise scale. The SOC limit policy of Star Charging is dynamically adjusted based on local conditions and user feedback, with differentiated settings for specific vehicle models and usage scenarios, and relevant users will be fully informed.
Q2: Can SOC limits really enhance safety?
A: According to data statistics from the National New Energy Vehicle Big Data Alliance, 80% of electric vehicle fire accidents occur during the charging process and within one hour of being fully charged, and most happen at high SOC values. Based on accident information collected by Star Charging, 70% of accidents occurred when SOC was above 90%, and 50% of accidents occurred when SOC was above 95%. Limiting SOC can reduce the probability of fire accidents to some extent.
Q3: How can I check the SOC limits at Star Charging stations?
A: The operation is very simple: open the Star Charging APP → go to the payment page → check the “charging SOC” option to get real-time information on the current station’s SOC settings.
Friendly reminder: As summer approaches, Star Charging will dynamically adjust the station’s SOC settings based on temperature changes. It is recommended that Star friends update the APP to the latest version to receive timely adjustment information. If you have any questions, feel free to contact customer service400-828-0768 for consultation.
Interactive Q&A: Dear Star friends, What are your exclusive charging maintenance tips? Come and share your experiences in the comments!
We will select 5 “maintenance experts” to receive exclusive coupon rewards! From now until June 15 at 17:00 (June 16 at 10:00 the winners will be announced), come and join the discussion, exciting gifts await you!
