[loggamatt]

Something I've never been sure of is whether I should keep my EV plugged into my wall box every night or only plug in when the battery is getting low? I have my car set to charge to 80% only, so it'll never be sitting at 100%. But I suppose the question is, what's better for the battery out of,

1. Charging from say 70% to 80% every day; or
2. Charging from 30% to 80% once a week?

Or doesn't it matter?

I would prefer to do option 1, because that way if I suddenly need to do a long journey I can set the car to charge to 100% a couple of hours before departure from the app, rather than have to wander outside to plug it in. However, I'm not so committed to that kind of laziness that I wouldn't rather do option 2 if it's kinder to the battery (though, I am pretty committed to laziness in general...)

 

[mikegs]

It really depends on whether or how often you actually expect to suddenly need to go on a long trip at short notice.

Personally I'd only charge it weekly, or as needed. Every time you uncoil, plug in, start charging, end charging, unplug and coil up you are using up lives of the cable, plugs/sockets and EVSE contactor. So doing it daily you can expect them to last 1/7th of the time of doing it weekly.

 

[cdlb]

Disclaimer: PHEV driver

I keep my car plugged in all of the time, but I use the scheduler to only charge it on certain days. At the moment, I know that I need to drive 4 days a week, so those are programmed into the charge scheduler. Otherwise, I just plug the car in, let it charge up to the minimum level that I've set (currently VW's winter recommendation of 40%) and leave it like that until the next scheduled departure. The nice thing about having it plugged in all of the time is that I don't have to remember when I need to plug in (because it's always, unless I'm driving), and if I need to drive on one of the other 3 days, I can start charging and preheating from the app without having to go plug the car in.

 

[Shedman]

The Volt manual recommends keeping the car plugged in, which is what I do. The car is still on its original 12v battery at 6.5 yrs and I do wonder if this is part of the reason it has lasted so long.

 

[jgwozdzicki]

Keep it plugged in. The car will manage everything else and it’s also easier to use shore power when pre-heating anyway, especially in our recent cold weather! Better to have it plugged in and not need it then unplugged and need it. I’ve also noticed my car has been “topping up” every other day as I presume the BMS and temperature are dropping the SoC a little bit on top of the usual vampire drain so another reason to keep it plugged in.

 

[6652]

I generally set mine to 80% as per the on screen recommendation, and then leave it plugged in.

Just before my usually weekly long journey, I charge it to 100% from the App.

If I’m not going out I leave it plugged in and charged to 80% anyway, and if I’m just off to the shops or my Fathers to drop off essentials, I just set off at 80% as it’s only a 40 mile round trip.

As above, the BMS sticks its nose in anyway, so it can look after it all the time I’m not as well!

 

[loggamatt]

Thanks all! I think that's what I'll do too from now on then

 

[Lexden]

If the car is not getting much use, then the BMW i3 manual recommends leaving the car plugged in to protect the 12 volt battery. It is also worth powering up the car from time to time which then kicks the DC to DC converter into life. It remains on for c.30 mins to charge the 12 volt battery. Other EVs may of course have their own recommended practices.

 

[andrew*debbie]

It entirely depends on the car. Some are best stored plugged in others are not.