Commute uses ~40-45% of battery. What is the best way to charge?

[StillWaitingForMachE]

As the title states, my commute (when I carpool with my wife and drop the baby off at the sitter) uses ~40% of the battery round trip. Because we don't feel comfortable coming home with 10% battery or worse (depending on temps) if we go two days without charging, we plug in every night.

My question is this: what is the best way to charge for long-term battery health:
- charge to 60-65%, meaning we'd get home with ~20-25%.
- charge to 90%, but then be charging from ~50% every night
-something else?

Or does it not really make a difference either way?

We L2 charge, for what it's worth.

Sponsored

 

[Ming]

Charge the car. And sleep well.

 

[BMT1071]

Charge to 90% every night. This gives you plenty of buffer in case of an unanticipated detour. Depth of discharge also has a detrimental effect on the battery. How much is still up for debate.

 

[RyZt]

does it not really make a difference either way?

No

I’d do 90% or 80% every night.

Having more buffer means that you’re better prepared for an unplanned detour. It also likely means that you’ll enjoy the car better because you don’t have to worry about it.

 

[ShaggySS]

Charge the car. And sleep well.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Keep that Engineering mindset out of it. Charge to 90% nightly and enjoy.

 

[Mach-Lee]

Best way would be to charge to 70% every night so the pack stays centered around 50% SoC. Bump it up if you get back with less than 20-25%.

 

[Nemy]

Nobody knows. The general consensus is just to avoid 100% all the time. For 4 years I charged every night to 80-90% (100% in peak winter) after my 130 mile commute. If you're really worried, set departure time charging so it's spending less time on a fuller battery.

If I was in your shoes, though, I'd charge every night to 85%. That would give me two days worth plus a buffer in case the power went out or you had an unexpected detour.

 

[StillWaitingForMachE]

Keep that Engineering mindset out of it.

I can't help it! I am an engineer haha! ?

But seriously, thanks everyone. I won't sweat the charging every night then, on those days that I have to do so.

 

[ShaggySS]

If I was in your shoes, though, I'd charge every night to 85%. That would give me two days worth plus a buffer in case the power went out or you had an unexpected detour.

Interesting. Take the Apple approach which delays charging your phone the last x% until closer to the time when you typically wake up. (Before the flames I don't know if androids do this)

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

Ford says to charge to 90%, so that's what I do. Getting down below 20%, especially regularly, is a bad idea for several reasons (LVB stops charging below 12-15%, it's hard on the HVB, leaves you potentially in a lurch if an emergency arises, etc.).

 

[JohnnyForensic]

I can't help it! I am an engineer haha! ?

But seriously, thanks everyone. I won't sweat the charging every night then, on those days that I have to do so.

Remember, as it gets cooler, you’ll lose range, so I second the “charge to 90% every night” posts. You’ll be fine.

 

[Nemy]

Interesting. Take the Apple approach which delays charging your phone the last x% until closer to the time when you typically wake up. (Before the flames I don't know if androids do this)

Androids do not lol. Didn't even know iphone had that ability.

That's one of the things I miss the most from the Bolt though. It had built in priority charging to charge immediately to 40% for errands etc. and then it would default back to departure for the maximum %. Not sure why this can't be done via OTA though especially since departure on the MME has never worked properly.

 

[StillWaitingForMachE]

Androids do not lol. Didn't even know iphone had that ability.

That's one of the things I miss the most from the Bolt though. It had built in priority charging to charge immediately to 40% for errands etc. and then it would default back to departure for the maximum %. Not sure why this can't be done via OTA though especially since departure on the MME has never worked properly.

But if you're like me and want to charge ONLY during off-peak hours for maximum $$$ savings, wouldn't it immediately charging to 40% as soon as plugged in be a bad thing?
Or is it a setting you can turn on/off?

 

[Nemy]

But if you're like me and want to charge ONLY during off-peak hours for maximum $$$ savings, wouldn't it immediately charging to 40% as soon as plugged in be a bad thing?
Or is it a setting you can turn on/off?

It could be turned off and the Bolt also had off-peak scheduling. I never used it, though, so I don't know which took priority but it seems like something that could be easily programmed even for the MME.

 

[daemonic3]

Interesting. Take the Apple approach which delays charging your phone the last x% until closer to the time when you typically wake up. (Before the flames I don't know if androids do this)

You will find information all over the map on the internet regarding this, but I have seen/heard many times that *keeping* a battery (though likely not every single chemistry) at 100% for a long time will lead to cell memory loss. Kind of like how smoking weed leads to short term memory loss. Or how smoking weed leads to short term memory loss.

Anyway, for better or worse my strategy will be to plug in at home once it has gotten below say 60-70%, and charge to 90%. I will charge to 100% if I know the next day I will use it and need the range. That way it is never stored at 100% for more than a few hours.

Will this help in the long run? Don't know! But it sure feels easy to do and won't give any range anxiety.

Sponsored