Having a kid’s electric car provides fun not only to little ones but also to the entire family. But in order to enjoy the ride, it’s important to avoid running out of battery life. Likewise, it’s also necessary to consider the time duration for charging the battery.
Battery life may depend on the voltage. However, before discussing the electric car battery life, it’s better to know first the different voltages of batteries that are commonly used in ride-on cars.
- 6-Volt car battery – This type of battery runs well on flat or paved surfaces.
- 12-Volt car battery – This is used in electric cars which are designed to run on hard surfaces and enables it to travel the maximum speed of 5 miles/hour.
- 24-Volt car battery – It is used in larger electric cars that can run on both tarmac and hard surfaces. The toy car with this battery can run with the speed of 15 miles/hour.
Now, let’s get on to the amount of time needed in charging a new battery after bringing home the new electric kid’s car.
- Charging a 6-Volt battery for the first time requires 10 hours to be fully charged, but with regular maintenance charging, it will take about 6 hours.
- For 12-Volt batteries, it will take 18 hours for first time charging and 12 hours for regular charging. 12-Volt motors usually have an extended battery life, but the higher the voltage of the motor, the more power it consumes which, in turn, shortens battery life.
- In the case of a 24-Volt battery, the charging duration varies depending on the motor’s power usage.
To ensure that the battery life will last for a longer time, never charge it for more than 24 hours because electric car batteries are sensitive to overcharging. Battery cells can be permanently damaged when it is charged for an extended time more than the recommended. This may lead to malfunction or complete failure to recharge.
Another factor that affects the battery life is the power usage and battery capacity. The power usage takes into consideration the average speed, terrain, and whether it is driven on slopes. If the car is driven at its maximum speed on rocky terrains, then it will consume more power. With this, it is expected that the battery will run out in just a short time. That’s why if you’re planning to ride it for long hours, the best thing to do is to have a spare battery ready to use.
Buying a spare battery for your kid’s electric car is a smart decision so that you can use it interchangeably. Here are some of the rechargeable batteries that you can consider:
- 6-Volt 10Ah rechargeable battery – This is suitable for electric cars, quads, jeeps, motorbikes and scooters. It is very durable, and thus you can expect a longer battery life.
- 6-Volt 12Ah
- 6-Volt 7Ah
- 6-Volt 5Ah valve-regulated lead acid battery – It features high reliability and stable quality. It’s a perfect spare battery because of its compact design. It offers long usage and is environment-friendly.
- 12-Volt 200Ah lithium ion battery pack – This battery pack for kid’s electric cars has a large capacity and low self-discharge. It features a strong charging acceptance and over-discharge resistance as well as charge retention. It has a naturally long life without requiring diligent maintenance.
- The Peg Perego 12-Volt battery will work for a longer time if it is properly charged or correctly stored. This brand of battery is designed to provide safety to a toy car and generate outstanding current output needed to accelerate the vehicle.
In the end, it is ultimately better to invest in high quality batteries rather than using generic batteries that can cause serious damage to your electric car.
Battery Chemistry
Battery chemistry is the biggest factor that affects the battery’s longevity, if you’ve heard about “lithium polymer” and “lithium ion” batteries. But, there’s something more important to understand about battery chemistry.
These include details about cathode and anode structure or construction, the additives (the small trace of chemicals that affect the longevity and performance of the battery) and the combination of the materials involved may vary from one manufacturer to another.
Thermal Management And Temperature
Another factor that affects battery life is the temperature. Lithium ion batteries are temperature-sensitive. They don’t like it too cold or too hot as they lose capacity with improper thermal management. Driving the electric car for long hours will make the battery reach extreme temperatures that it cannot manage.
On the other hand, if you’re planning not to use your kid’s electric car for an extended period of time, it will cause an imbalance to the battery, thus reducing your range. Thus, it should be fully charged before using it so that the batteries will be rebalanced.
As much as possible, avoid using DC quick chargers in charging the battery because it can also reduce the range. It might be convenient to employ fast charging but the battery will suffer the consequences. Fast charging greatly affects the lifespan of the battery and in just a short period you’ll be required to replace the battery altogether.
Draining the battery completely can cause damage, so it only makes sense to have a charging schedule before the battery gets drained. But, lithium batteries perform well when they are half-charged. After charging the battery, let it cool down before letting your child drive the ride-on car.
Maximizing the battery life of the electric vehicle is possible as long as you observe those details discussed above. But, if you’re using plug-in battery chargers you can fuel up anytime as the need arises.
There’s nothing to worry about because most car manufacturers install built-in precautions to avoid overcharging, over-discharging and overheating. These give positive impacts to the lifespan of the battery.
In Conclusion
With proper management and maintenance, you can expect that the battery lifespan to stretch considerably. This means that your kids will enjoy riding the electric vehicle as they grow up.
Just like any real car, it’s also important to let a professional mechanic check the battery to avoid possible issues that may cause the battery to malfunction, and at the same time extend the lifespan of the battery.