Why you should only charge your EV to 80%?
But will it harm your vehicle to charge it past 80%? Technically, it can. Lithium-ion batteries cannot tolerate high voltages for extended periods of time, and keeping your battery charged fully can accelerate degradation.
Keeping the state of battery charge, from 0 percent to 100 percent , also improves the performance of the battery life of your vehicle. Even though a full charge will give you the maximum operating time, it is never a good idea for the overall lifespan of your battery.
“The recommendation to avoid charging over 80% is around prolonging the life of the battery – batteries age more quickly if they are held at 100% charge for long periods of time, and especially in hot weather, so if you don't need the full range of the vehicle on that day, it's better to only charge to 80-85%,” ...
Charging at home is the most cost-effective and convenient way to charge your electric vehicle. The majority of EV users with their own chargepoint are able to fully charge their car overnight. However, this does mean an increase of electricity usage at home, which could be as high as 80%.
“I would recommend charging to 70% normally. When you need a long trip, charge to 100%.” That's even lower, but again, it's still over 150 miles of range on most versions of Tesla's vehicles and if the need arises, they can actually charge to 100%.
Keep the “State of Charge” between 20-80%
Avoid keeping your battery empty or completely full. Instead, change the settings on your car or car charger to limit the charge to around 80% and keep it above 20% if you can. Most daily or weekly driving is easily covered by the range of most EVs.
Most EV manufacturers recommend that you stick to between 20-80% battery charge, so based on your driving habits, you'll want to plug in every three days or so. Saving money on fuel is one of the main benefits of electric car ownership, but no matter what you drive, we can help you save money on car insurance!
The short answer to the question is no. In general, you should not charge your electric car every night. It isn't necessary in most cases. The practice of charging an electric vehicle every night can shorten the lifespan of the car's battery pack.
Experts say electric vehicle batteries typically cost between $2,000 and $10,000 to replace, but some are more expensive. Electric vehicles are growing in popularity worldwide, with sales doubling in 2021 to a new record of 6.6 million, the International Energy Agency said in May.
The average lifetime mileage of an ICE vehicle is about 133,000 miles. While experts estimate the average EV battery will last around 200,000 miles, some manufacturers already promise much more than that.
Is it better to slow charge or fast charge an electric car?
Also, although all modern electric cars have some form of Battery Management System (BMS), to look after your battery pack, slow charging does help the BMS more comprehensively condition and balance the battery. The result being that the next time you fast charge your car it may do so much more efficiently.
Frequent use of DC charging could result in reducing your battery's efficiency and lifespan. The vehicle monitors battery health and may take actions including, but not limited to, reducing the DC fast charge rate to protect the battery hardware from damage, and to maintain battery health.”
Like any car, it is advisable not to drive it deep into flooded roads but just to explain an IP67 rating will mean the car can be submerged under 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes. Hence, if it rains, there is no issue in regards to driving your EV.
For regular use, we recommend keeping your car set within the 'Daily' range bracket, up to approximately 90%. Charging up to 100% is best saved for when you are preparing for a longer trip. You can adjust how full the battery charges from the charge settings menu.
According to Tesla forums, a 100% range charge is fine as long as the battery does not stay at 100% for more than a few hours. That means that a full charge at a Supercharger is fine, because owners will continue driving within minutes of leaving a Supercharger.
That's usually because your electric vehicle (EV) has asked the charger to slow things down because it's getting too hot.
Maintain Charge Level Between 20% and 80%
Many EV experts recommend keeping the battery charged between 20% and 80% because it strains the battery when it completely discharges or fully charges. Smart EV charging stations can cease charging at the desired level, helping you achieve the desired level of charge.
Electric car battery technology
This decreases the range and time needed between each journey to charge. Most manufacturers have a five to eight-year warranty on their battery. However, the current prediction is that an electric car battery will last from 10 – 20 years before they need to be replaced.
Just like sitting in your car while filling up with gas, you can sit in an electric vehicle. There is a low risk of electrocution occurring when sitting in EVs while charging since they are well-designed to ensure user safety.
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.
Is it free to charge up your electric car?
Charging your electric car while out and about is a great way to top up your battery and many locations offer free charging to their customers or visitors. On most modern networks you can use a free-to-download mobile app to find chargepoints and start your charge.
A typical EV takes around 30 minutes or more to charge with a high-powered DC fast charger. But today researchers at Penn State University published a study in Nature revealing they have developed an EV battery that, crucially, can charge up to about 70% capacity in roughly 10 minutes.
You should never be in a hurry to go by your EV vehicle on a long drive. You need to do long-term planning before you embark on a long journey. You might find yourself in the middle of the highway near a charging station when your car needs charging.
EV motors don't use up power while stationary so according to experts and tests, electric cars can idle for more than 24 hours. In an article by Reuters, Oxford University engineering professor David Howey, states that EV motors don't use power when the car is stationary.
Who owns the battery in an electric car? Most batteries are now included in the purchase price of an EV, but in the early days of electric cars, in the Noughties, some manufacturers would sell you the car but lease the battery separately.
The short answer is nothing, really. Your EV will stop running, and you'll need roadside assistance or a tow, similar to a car that's out of gas.
Electric vehicles have two batteries, one for power generation and the other for electrical functions. Regardless of what range it provides, most electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles rely on a traditional battery to start moving. That is a 12-volt battery, typically of the lead-acid type.
You can indeed jump-start an EV the same way you can with a gas-powered car. However, the chances of you ever having to do this are rare, thanks to the way the power system in an EV works.
According to research conducted by the US Department of Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Idaho National Laboratory, electric cars can save up to $14,500 on gas costs over 15 years.
Unfortunately, electric cars depreciate a bit faster than gas-powered cars. The most significant vehicle depreciation typically occurs after purchase and within the first three years. According to an iSeeCars study, EV owners can expect 52 percent depreciation in the first three years.
Will charging electric cars ever be as fast as pumping gas?
New technology could make charging electric cars as fast as pumping gas. Quantum charging could cut the charging time of electric vehicles from ten hours to three minutes. Whether it's photovoltaics or fusion, sooner or later, human civilization must turn to renewable energies.
What is the life of an EV Charger? Unfortunately, because electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) units are relatively new technology, there is little concrete data on their longevity or average maintenance expenses. We know that industry experts predict the expected charger lifespan to be approximately ten years.
The truth is, no vehicle—whether electric or gas—runs at peak performance when temperatures fall below freezing. However, because lithium batteries can be negatively affected by cold weather, it's important to note that there will be a decrease in driving range during cold weather.
Today, as EVs become ever more mainstream, we're sure that figure is much lower. Because – spoiler alert! – you definitely CAN drive an electric vehicle in the rain. As pointed out by the charity Electrical Safety First (ESF), 'engineers have ensured that the cars are waterproof'.
The truth is, electric vehicles (including hybrids) are designed so that the battery cells are well-sealed against wet road-based scenarios. For all intents, consider it impossible for water to come into contact with them (extreme exceptions always apply!).
Full charge vs top-up charging
But don't worry - you don't have to charge until 100% every time. Sure, it will mean you have to recharge more frequently - but EV manufacturers actually recommend that you stick to between 20-80% charge as much as you can, as this will help to maximise your battery's longevity.
EV drivers are far more likely to “top off” their battery—making charging times quicker in practice. (In general, most manufacturers suggest keeping the battery's charge in the range of 20 to 80 percent to extend its life.) And, of course, not every car has the same battery capacity.
The 40-80 rule is a way to maximize the lifespan of your battery by limiting the damage ; specifically it refers to not discharging below 40% and not above 80%. Charging above 80% becomes increasingly cause damage to the battery life cycle. Normally the life cycle of lithium ion battery is 300 to 500 charge cycle.
Also, EVs have built-in battery management systems that eliminate the risk of overcharging. This means the car can slow down the charging process once it detects the battery is getting near full charge. If it does reach 100% and the car is still plugged in, then the system will switch to trickle charging.
Also, although all modern electric cars have some form of Battery Management System (BMS), to look after your battery pack, slow charging does help the BMS more comprehensively condition and balance the battery. The result being that the next time you fast charge your car it may do so much more efficiently.
How long does it take to charge an EV to 80%?
While drivers today are accustomed to filling their gas tank in less than five minutes, EVs, depending on the size and specifications of the battery, typically take at least 30 minutes to get 80 percent charged at the fastest charging stations out there.
What percentage should I charge the battery to? For regular use, we recommend keeping your car set within the 'Daily' range bracket, up to approximately 90%. Charging up to 100% is best saved for when you are preparing for a longer trip. You can adjust how full the battery charges from the charge settings menu.
Keep the “State of Charge” between 20-80%
Avoid keeping your battery empty or completely full. Instead, change the settings on your car or car charger to limit the charge to around 80% and keep it above 20% if you can. Most daily or weekly driving is easily covered by the range of most EVs.
Follow the 80% Rule
With a DC fast charger, it's best to unplug when your battery reaches about 80% charge. That's when charging slows dramatically—it could take almost as long to fill the last 20% of charge as it did to get to 80% in the first place.
To keep your gadgets humming for many years to come, stop charging them from zero to 100 percent, says Cadex Electronics, which designs power-monitoring systems. Instead, keep the battery meter between 40 percent and 80 percent. Research shows that living to the extremes can wear out lithium batteries.
The golden rule is to keep your battery topped up somewhere between 30% and 90% most of the time. Top it up when it drops below 50%, but unplug it before it hits 100%.
Android phone manufacturers, including Samsung, say the same. “Do not leave your phone connected to the charger for long periods of time or overnight." Huawei says, "Keeping your battery level as close to the middle (30% to 70%) as possible can effectively prolong the battery life."
