Photo Credit: iStockLong-term battery health in an EV may depend partly on how it is driven, not just how far it goes on a given trip.A new study from China suggests driving style can influence how quickly a battery loses capacity over time.The biggest differences appeared in high-current habits such as hard acceleration and braking, which the researchers linked to much faster degradation than smoother, efficiency-focused driving, reported ScienceAlert.Here's what to knowUsing a year of real-world data from 15 EVs in Guangzhou, researchers at Shanghai Dianji University estimated that, over 1,000 charge-discharge cycles, the harshest driving category could be tied to about 2.5 times the battery capacity loss of the gentlest one.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe team — researchers Hao Cheng, Zhongwei Gu, and Wangqiang Gao — grouped driving behavior into five categories using speed, battery current, voltage, temperature, and state-of-charge data collected every 10 seconds in 2022. They then used a machine-learning framework to isolate driving style from other battery-aging factors, including temperature, idling, and starting charge.Their findings, published in Scientific Reports, showed that the smoothest driving style led to a projected 21.15% loss in battery capacity after 1,000 cycles. The most aggressive style, by contrast, was projected to lose 53.22%.The researchers also found that the most aggressive driving created 18.4 times the immediate battery-aging stress of eco-driving, largely because of repeated high-current demand caused by hard acceleration and deceleration.More backgroundBattery health is one of the biggest factors in EV ownership. As batteries age, they gradually hold less charge, which can reduce driving range and potentially affect resale value. Replacing a battery is possible, but it is also expensive, with the battery accounting for around one-fourth of a vehicle's retail price.AdvertisementAdvertisementEven so, EVs still offer major benefits for drivers. Beyond helping reduce climate-warming pollution, they can save owners money on fuel costs and lower routine maintenance expenses, since EVs generally have fewer moving parts and don't need oil changes. Those savings can add up over time for households considering buying an electric vehicle.The new study does not suggest EV batteries are unusually fragile or that degradation can be prevented altogether. Some wear is normal with any lithium-ion battery.Instead, the findings indicate that driver behavior may have a meaningful effect even when average speed remains similar.In this case, the aggressive-driving group drew far more current from the battery than the eco-driving group.What can be done?Smoother acceleration and braking may help protect battery health while also improving efficiency. The researchers modeled a scenario in which everything else was held constant, and the only change was a shift from aggressive driving to eco-driving. Short-term battery stress dropped by 91.3%.AdvertisementAdvertisementStudies like this can help automakers, fleet operators, and drivers better understand how real-world behavior affects battery longevity. That could lower ownership costs and help batteries remain useful for longer, reducing waste.As the researchers put it: "This result demonstrates that optimizing driving style is an effective way to alleviate the aging of power batteries and extend cycle life."Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.