Used to just plug in my car anywhere, anytime

For the first year I had my EV, I didn't think twice about charging. I'd just pull up to the closest public charger when I got low, even if it was a pricey DC fast charger. Then my electric bill at home started creeping up too because I'd plug in every night regardless. A buddy from the local EV club pointed out that charging to 100% every night was actually wearing my battery faster. He showed me his battery health report after 40,000 miles and it was way better than mine at 20,000. Now I only charge to 80% daily at home during off-peak hours around 11pm, and I save the fast chargers for road trips. Anyone else notice their battery degradation slow down after changing charging habits?

2 comments

2 Comments

noahbaker1mo ago

@park.troy nailed it with that Dave story. I had the exact same wakeup call. First year I was charging to 100% every night like it was nothing. My range dropped about 12 miles in the first 15,000 miles. Started doing the 80% thing and only going full for road trips and the degradation basically stopped after that. Now at 35,000 miles and the range loss is maybe 3 or 4 more miles. Night and day difference. Off peak charging is a game changer too. My electric company even gives me a discount for plugging in after 11pm.

park.troy1mo ago

My buddy Dave got an EV about six months before me. He was the type to just plug in whenever, wherever, never paid attention to charge levels. After about a year he noticed his estimated range was dropping faster than expected. He actually took it to the dealer and they ran a diagnostic. Turns out he'd been charging to 100% every single night for months and it was cooking his battery a bit. The tech told him to aim for 80% daily and only go full for trips. He's been doing that for two years now and his battery degradation basically flatlined compared to the first year.