One of the folks at DeltaQ (where my charger is from) was kind enough to forward me this battery testing procedure. I am going to try it out today:
- The battery packs health can be determined with these tests:
1) Charge pack until green LED is on solid, then wait a few (>2) hours and measure the voltage of each battery. Voltage level indicates state of charge. i.e. Lowest voltage indicates battery with lowest charge.
2) Drive car around for a while to drain the batteries a bit, then wait a few (>2) hours and measure the voltage of each battery. Voltage level now indicates a batteries capacity. i.e. Biggest voltage drop compared to readings taken in step one indicate which battery has the least capacity.
3)Load batteries by turning on heater or minimum throttle and measure the voltage of each battery. The drop in battery voltage indicates internal resistance. i.e. Battery with biggest voltage drop compared to readings taken in step two has the highest internal resistance.
Batteries with lowest charge/least capacity/highest resistance are the weakest ones and should be replaced if performance is subpar, however, replacing all batteries at once for matched performance always gives the best chance of extending the life of each battery.
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Have you been monitoring your water level in the batteries? If they are low it could account for the decreasing range. I think a good rule of thumb is that you add a bit a water every 150-200 miles, or every 8-10 charging cycles.
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