Some of you might find this topic strange, but if you just remember that for the better part of 2020, the world was in complete lockdown. The issue of unused EVs is pretty relevant. Of course, cars are made to be driven, and for an electric car, or any vehicle for that matter, it is far better to be regularly used. However, today we will explain just how long you can leave your EV in the garage, and what you need to do in that case.
Charge your electric car before you park it
Basically, a fully charged electric car can sit for months if the battery is fully charged. The car can then be put into “Deep Sleep” mode (if equipped). Electric vehicles lose charge when parked although it is minimal, it can add up over time. Green Car Reports suggest you charge your battery at least 80% before parking the car. However,EV experts all agree that the vehicle needs to have at least 50% battery when put into storage. Interestingly, nobody recommends charging it completely 100%. The reason is that if the battery is fully charged and left for prolonged periods of time, it can damage it. So, the best way is to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines and have it between 50 to 80%.
Some EVs have “Deep Sleep” or “Power Save” modes which are designed to minimalize energy consumption during long-term parking. Be sure to choose that mode since it will help you conserve power. It will also disengage some unnecessary systems, which will otherwise slowly drain your battery pack. Every electric vehicle has smaller 12V batteries used to power auxiliary systems such as a clock or central locking. Still, during long-term storage, you won’t need your GPS or to download the latest updates over 5G.
Temperature
One of the biggest enemies of the battery level and range is the temperature. Even in everyday use, electric cars see a sharp decline in range when driven during winter. Extremely hot weather could also result in problems. Extreme temperatures affect the chemical reactions inside the battery. Therefore limiting its charging capacity, output, and so on. That is why it is crucial to park your EV in the garage, which will keep the temperature steady for the entire time.
Preparations For Long-Term Parking
After you have sufficiently charged your vehicle using a suitable EV charging cable and parked in the garage, there are just a couple more things you should do before you leave it. The first is to inflate your tyres according to manufacturer specifications to avoid any damage if the tyre gets deflated. Electric vehicles are heavy and constant pressure can result in a flat tyre. Especially when you come back in a couple of months to pick up the car. The best solution is lifting the car on the block so the tyres wouldn’t have contact with the surface but inflating them and checking for punctures should do the trick.
Also, be sure to clean the interior of any food, beverages, or items that might go bad over time. Remember that some things can develop a nasty smell and ruin your interior even after a week in closed cars.
Are you looking to switch to an electric car?
With a wide variety of electric vehicles available at EVision, customers love the choice!
Customers can hire by the day, week, month, or even a year and there are plenty of benefits from hiring from us. Whether you need a vehicle for the odd trip, or you’re back in the office and looking to avoid public transport, we can help.
We have the following electric cars available:
- Tesla Model S, X & 3
- Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4
- Audi e-tron
- BMW i3
- Renault ZOE
- Porsche Taycan
- Jaguar I-Pace
- Vauxhall Corsa-e
- Kia e-Niro
- Electric vans including the Vauxhall Vivaro-e and Renault Kangoo
- Plus the brand new Polestar 2!
Hires can be booked directly on our website, or should you require further information, give our team a call on: 01634 914063. If you have any additional questions, our experienced team would be happy to help!
