Does Fast Charging Really Accelerate the Degradation of EV Batteries?
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Fast charging technology has become one of the important features that supports the daily use of electric cars. With fast charging, the vehicle’s battery can be charged in a shorter time compared to normal charging.
However, behind its practicality, concerns have emerged that frequent use of fast charging can accelerate the degradation of electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Mahaendra Gofar, founder of EVSafe, said that the use of fast charging can indeed affect the battery’s lifespan if done excessively.
“Fast charging is practical, but the heat generated is also higher. If it is used too often continuously, it will certainly have an impact on the battery’s health in the long term,” Gofar told Kompas.com on Wednesday (13/5/2026).
According to him, temperature is one of the main factors that affect the degradation of lithium-ion cells. When the battery temperature increases too often, the chemical reactions inside the cells can occur more quickly and gradually decrease the battery capacity.
However, this does not mean that electric car users should avoid fast charging altogether. Modern electric cars are now equipped with a battery management system (BMS) which functions to regulate temperature and current distribution during the charging process.
This system helps maintain stable battery conditions even when using fast charging. Therefore, the use of fast charging occasionally for long-distance travel is still considered safe.
“The important thing is not to always rely on fast charging every day if you can actually use normal charging,” said Gofar.
He added that battery degradation in electric cars actually still occurs naturally over time and with the vehicle’s usage cycle. On average, the decrease in battery capacity is in the range of 1-2 percent per year depending on usage patterns and vehicle operating conditions.
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