70%, 80%, 90%?? For those charging at home, what threshold do you use?

[JmanMachE]

80% is my default unless I’m planning a long ride. In the nicer weather I’m not plugging in until I’m below 60%. From everything I’ve read 90% should be fine but I figure go for the least stress on the pack. For the same reason I usually charge at 32 amps even though I could go faster. Leaving some room is sometimes helpful when you happen to park near a free public charger.

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[RickMachE]

New owner, slightly confused
Here is a link where they say
WHAT CHARGE LEVEL SHOULD I SET MY VEHICLE TO?
For most Ford electric vehicles, the recommended charge level is 90%. Avoid charging to 100% when you don’t need that range, though 100% charge is is recommended before beginning a longer trip.

In the 2022 owner's manual it states "
Use AC charging when possible and minimize the use of DC charging. It helps to preserve your high voltage battery's efficiency and lifespan.
We recommend ending DC charges at 80% state of charge."
and
"With Charge Scheduling you can improve the high voltage battery's longevity by delaying the start of charging and setting a maximum charging limit. It is recommended to set your preferred charging times to be at least 2-3 hours after your typical plug in time. This allows the battery to cool before charging begins. Additionally, setting the maximum charge level to 90% for everyday usage reduces strain on the battery."

So...if charging at home (which is AC I guess) is 90% preferred or the maximum recommended? Is there any advantage to lower thresholds? Any engineers, electricians, or scientists in the forum?

Yes, 90% at home. Could not be clearer.

Unless you live where summers are 100 degrees, what time of day you charge is only impacted by electricity rates, and by driving. The note about delaying is allowing the battery time to cool after a trip. A trip is not 10 minutes to the grocery store, a trip is hours of driving that heat the battery up. And, that's "ideal", i.e. if you have to charge the battery some right after a trip, then charge it.

I charge between 7PM and 11AM because my rate is much lower.

 

[Thunderbirdsoundsbetter]

I’m always at a 100%. I always say it’s not like I’m gonna keep the car forever. But also I need the 100% as I put over 40k miles a year lol.

 

[SnBGC]

I used to charge to 90% but then it becomes a problem when my car forgets to wake up for the scheduled charge session. That doesn't happen often, maybe once or twice a month. Even then, it causes me to cut it close the next day.

So now I charge to 100% and don't worry about it. I only drive 32k miles per year though...

 

[JamieGeek]

Since I'm in Michigan and only drive about 50 miles on a typical day I use two different charging schemes:

1. In summer I charge to 90% on Sunday and Thursday evenings. With my CA Rt1 on warm summer days I can get more than enough charge for a few days drives still leaving enough range for an "emergency" (or not so urgent) drive somewhere. So Sunday for the week and Thursday for the weekend.
2. In winter I set the top level to 80% and charge nightly.

I used the above scheme for my Bolt (since it was a 2018 it was hilltop-reserve on in winter and off in summer) and did not notice any issues with the battery (or fires for that matter) in the 3 years I drove it.

 

[DevSecOps]

Everyone's individual situation is different. If you live in a metro area and rarely drive outside of it then charge to whatever you want under 90% and keep it over 20%

My average daily miles last month was 80. I do about 30k a year and at any time need to drive 200+. Therefore, I charge to 90% daily. Do what best suites your need.

Lastly, if you need to DCFC, then do it! The car is meant to be driven.

 

[phil]

I plug the car in if I notice the battery is below 50%.

When plugged in, it's scheduled to charge to 85%.

 

[Tom L]

I plug in almost every night and charge to 90% as recommended by Ford. My charge happens after 9pm to take advantage of my utilities' lowest rates.

Same as KevinS for me

 

[MustThee?]

I plug the car in if I notice the battery is below 50%.

When plugged in, it's scheduled to charge to 85%.

Yup same for me

 

[MachTee]

With the large buffer in the Mach E, even on the newer cars that Ford decided to release a bit of that buffer, I imagine it's really not an issue even if you charge it to 100%, as long as it's driven daily and not sit at 100% for a period of time.

 

[TRP]

90% and plug in every day, set to charge 9p-9a regardless of current SOC when I park

 

[Zapata]

Owners Manual:
"Additionally, setting the maximum charge level to be less than 100% for everyday usage reduces strain on the battery". pg 157

"Storage State of Charge You can increase the battery life by maintaining your state of charge below 100%. When you park your vehicle for an extended period of 30 days or more, we recommend your battery be at an approximately 50% state of charge. Storing your vehicle's high voltage battery at higher states of charge is less favorable than storing at lower states of charge." pg 158

Ford website:


WHAT CHARGE LEVEL SHOULD I SET MY VEHICLE TO?
For most Ford electric vehicles, the recommended charge level is 90%. Avoid charging to 100% when you don’t need that range, though 100% charge is is recommended before beginning a longer trip.

https://www.ford.com/mustang/ev-charging/mache/

 

[ARK]

I think OP’s question is a little bit different, he is asking about whether 90% is the ideal charge to keep the battery at.

Answer to this is no, the 90% cap is like a ‘no higher’ figure, not an ideal target. Think of the 90% like the saturated fat or cholesterol amount on a food label - you don’t want to hit the max amount for the day, if you come in below you are better off.

Similarly, for a lithium ion battery like the one in the Mach-E, you want to avoid very high and very low states of charge. So if you are at 50% battery, you absolutely should not think ‘gee, I only need to drive 10 miles over the next five days and I’m at 50% charge now, I better charge up to 90% now for the sake of battery health’.

So in summary, if you are plugging in after every single drive to have your battery spend as much time as possible at 90%, you are doing your battery no favors. If the peace of mind of having a high state of charge is important to you, and you plan to charge as often as possible, I’d dial it back to 80% max charge.

 

[Jon]

I’m always at a 100%. I always say it’s not like I’m gonna keep the car forever. But also I need the 100% as I put over 40k miles a year lol.

I'm in the same boat as you. I commute 140 miles round trip everyday. I've charged it 100% every time I've plugged it in. I rarely keep a car longer than 3 years and after it bricking on me while driving, I don't have a lot of confidence in it. I'm currently waiting on the "Stop Safely Now" to pop up.

Currently eyeing the M50 BMW.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

Job 1 Car
90% (which is 80%, Ford does not let us access 10%)
99% of time I charge from home (12am - 6am).

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