80% charge or 90% charge for daily use?

[JamieGeek]

After almost three years of EV ownership, I still charge them both every night.

I don't want to wake up needing to take an emergency trip and have to immediately deal with a 20-40 minute DCFC session.

The Bolt goes to 80% every night and the Mach e goes to 90% every night.

Going on 9 years of EV ownership.

The Focus Electric I had I would charge every night (and sometimes during the day as well) but, of course, 70 miles of range will do that for you.

After that the cars had enough range: With the Bolt and now Mach-E: In summer charge to 80 or 90% (my Bolt only had Hilltop Reserve so I'd use that) about once or twice a week. In winter charge daily to the lower %. Occasionally charge to 100% for a road trip the next day.

How far will you have to go for an "emergency trip"? Most hospitals are <50 miles away from most people. Yes there are those that an "emergency trip" may mean helping a family member two hours away but those are rare cases.

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[Tampamike]

Per the owner’s manual, I charge to 90%. For road trips I charge to 100%. I don’t plug in again until it gets down to ~ 30%. If I have an unexpected emergency and have to leave town, I’m probably heading to the airport which is only 15 minutes away. If I have to take the car, there are EA chargers within 30 miles in either direction. I don’t worry about my charge level at home, at all.

 

[BalsaDust]

I follow the manusl, charge once a week for my weekly commutes and rarely charge on the weekend unless I am taking a longer trip and my GOM is in the 30~40% range but I rarely drop below 50%

Tony

 

[Mach1E]

After almost three years of EV ownership, I still charge them both every night.

I don't want to wake up needing to take an emergency trip and have to immediately deal with a 20-40 minute DCFC session.

The Bolt goes to 80% every night and the Mach e goes to 90% every night.

How often have you had a few hundred mile “emergency” to deal with?

Me? Never in my life.

But if it did happen……. Borrow a car, get a ride with a friend, rent a car, or Uber are all viable options.

People spend a lot of time, energy and money worrying about the “unlikely what ifs” in life.

I prefer not to have that kind of anxiety.

 

[ProximusAl]

I charge once a week on a Monday to 100% and use that during my daily commutes (Short Commutes). Lasts me for the week.

Previously I used to charge to 95%, but thought....what the hell...

 

[mkhuffman]

How far will you have to go for an "emergency trip"? Most hospitals are <50 miles away from most people. Yes there are those that an "emergency trip" may mean helping a family member two hours away but those are rare cases.

My mom lives 243 miles from my house, and that is the most likely place I will need to go in an emergency. Because I like to set the cruise at 80 mph, I always have to stop to DCFC on the way. But I need to be able to get to that first DCFC. I can if the car is charged 80%+.

Edit: my office is 143 miles from my house, and while it is less likely to be an emergency, there could be a meeting I need to attend that wasn't planned. I never have to worry if my car is always at 80%+.

 

[awp0]

I've been charging every day to 80%. But I'm still using 120v (waiting for an electrician) and it's a little safer to keep it topped up since since I can't possibly add more than like 30% in a day without dropping it off at a local L2. When I get L2, I'm thinking it'll be more like twice a week to 80%, or higher if I need it for a trip.

 

[Aferreira613]

Thank you everyone for the answers. I don’t commute to work so I will be using the vehicle for occasional trips into town, with a long drive (177 kms) to visit family about once every three weeks. Interesting to see so many different points of view.
I’ll ask a follow up question if you don’t mind. For those who don’t charge daily, do you leave your vehicle plugged in? Are you able to pre-condition before your daily drive with the vehicle unplugged?

 

[JamieGeek]

My mom lives 243 miles from my house, and that is the most likely place I will need to go in an emergency. Because I like to set the cruise at 80 mph, I always have to stop to DCFC on the way. But I need to be able to get to that first DCFC. I can if the car is charged 80%+.

Edit: my office is 143 miles from my house, and while it is less likely to be an emergency, there could be a meeting I need to attend that wasn't planned. I never have to worry if my car is always at 80%+.

LOL Like I said there are always exceptions (in not so many words).

That is a loooong commute!

 

[DadwithaMach]

It's an odd situation for the EV world... Here's what I mean

Not all battery tech is treated equally doesn't matter what company your EV is from Tesla, Ford, Rivian etc....

Batteries will become degrading over time with access full charging wearing it out. When I was with Tesla I had a 21' Model I always charged 80% daily... Then when I went on trips, I'd top is off to 100% I didn't need the range even at 80% but it was a good rule of thumb in the Tesla community...

With the new batteries that Tesla is coming out with they are saying you can charge to 100% daily because of the chemical makeup of them... Same with Ford, they just came out and stated that they are getting the same makeup/chemical as Tesla to push your charge to 100% daily if you want...

Now a gas car filling to 100% isn't the same by ANYMEANS

I'd say for less deterioration and longer life span of the battery I'd do between 80/85% unless you have to charge to 100% because of your daily commute then I'd do that... But also I'd hold off till the new batteries coming out by Ford..

 

[ProximusAl]

I’ll ask a follow up question if you don’t mind. For those who don’t charge daily, do you leave your vehicle plugged in? Are you able to pre-condition before your daily drive with the vehicle unplugged?

I dont plug in unless Im charging, and I dont pre-condition.

I charge it once a week, and drive it when I need to.

 

[Mach1E]

Thank you everyone for the answers. I don’t commute to work so I will be using the vehicle for occasional trips into town, with a long drive (177 kms) to visit family about once every three weeks. Interesting to see so many different points of view.
I’ll ask a follow up question if you don’t mind. For those who don’t charge daily, do you leave your vehicle plugged in? Are you able to pre-condition before your daily drive with the vehicle unplugged?

No, but I live in Florida. Pre-conditioning isn’t necessary.

 

[generaltso]

What is this manual you speak of? ?

It's a mythical book full of secrets. Some say it doesn't exist. But the faithful know it will always exist in our hearts.

 

[Snowrider69]

During the week I charge to 80% when it hits 30% and keep it at 80% on the weekends. I figure the fewer the charge cycles the better for battery life. Although, this is completely anecdotal.

When traveling, charge to 100%.

 

[Parasmoney]

I have driven the car just a little over 150 miles. I was wondering about the same question when I plugged it in to charge for the first time at home. At the moment I have set the limit to 70% as majority of the commute is very local. I drive about 12 miles on average a day. I figured, on the occasion when I take a road trip, I'll top it up to 100%. Hopefully charging to 70% won't put me in a bind in an emergency situation.

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