If you have an electric car, you’re no doubt worried about how you can keep the batteries lasting as long as possible. You may ask yourself, should I charge my EV to 100?
Yes, you should charge your EV to 100. You should allow the battery to deplete instead of recharging it again at high levels such as 80%.
There are a couple of tips and tricks that will help you to get the most out of your EV’s battery. In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the most essential. Make sure you check it out.
How Often Should I Charge My Ev to 100 %?
Charging an EV battery is often a topic that is up for discussion among new car owners. What can you do to keep the battery in like-new condition? Is it possible to overcharge the battery?
Charging the battery to 100% is a controversial subject too. How often should you charge your battery to 100%?
Manufacturers that have studied electric car batteries recommend that you follow these tips:
- Fully charge the battery to 100% but do not allow it to overcharge. Most EV batteries have an automatic shutoff that turns off the charger once the battery has reached its maximum capacity. This is done to prevent damaging the battery.
- Fully charge the battery when it depletes. It is recommended that you fully charge the battery once it has depleted rather than topping up the battery here and there. This helps the battery to remain in better condition for longer. For example, fully charge the battery once it depletes to 20% rather than when it depletes to only 80%.
- Do not charge the battery every night. The likelihood is that you are not using the battery enough to warrant charging it fully every night. Instead, charge it when the battery depletes or before taking a long trip.
Should I Charge My EV to 80% Or 90 %?
Most EV car manufacturers recommend that you charge your car to 80 or 90% rather than 100% for daily driving. Why is that? To preserve the good condition of the battery for as long as possible.
These manufacturers state that you should only charge the battery to 100% when taking it for longer journeys.
| EV Make | How you should charge your EV |
| VW Ford Tesla | 80% for daily driving. 100% for long range journeys. 90% for daily driving. 100% for long range journeys. 90% for daily driving. 100% for long range journeys. |
Avoiding charging your battery every time to 100% is not the only thing that you can do to boost your car’s battery performance.
Take a look at the following tips that will also help you to extend your EV’s battery life.
- Avoid fast charging the battery. Only do so when necessary. Charge the battery properly to get the most out of it.
- Keep the car out of extreme temperatures. Keeping the car in extreme heat or extremely cold conditions when parked will needlessly drain its battery.
- Control the battery while you store it. Keep the maximum battery charge between 25 and 75% while the car is not in use. Avoid keeping the battery charged up to 100% when the car is not in use for longer periods of time.
Can I Charge My EV to 90 Percent?
One of the most common questions that electric vehicle drivers ask is about charging an EV and keeping the battery in good condition. You can charge your EV to 90 percent when you are using it for daily driving.
If you are planning to take the car out for a longer journey, however, you should charge it to 100%.
Manufacturers such as Tesla and Ford recommend that you charge your EV to 90% when you are using it for short journeys out and about.
You should avoid fast charging the battery where possible and keep the car out of extreme heat and extreme cold.
Final Thoughts
If you are the owner of a brand new EV you will want to keep it working in the best condition possible. As well as keeping it clean and taking it for regular maintenance, you will also want to keep an eye on how well the battery is working. Because of that, you may wonder, should I charge my EV to 100?
As we have seen in this article, you can charge your EV to 100. In fact, it is recommended that you do so instead of putting it through various mini charges.
You should also avoid overcharging the battery as this is not good for it.
All of these tips will help you keep your battery in tiptop condition for as long as possible and help you stay out on the road for the duration.
