Best time to charge ?

Ruthie B

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Is it better to plug in and charge at home as soon as you get home, while the battery is still warm from driving, or plug in and wait an hour or 2 for off-peak evening rates ?
My electric rates are 14 cents before 6 pm and 9 cents after 6 pm. Saving a couple of bucks on 45 - 57 kwh is not a deal breaker. I charge every 3 days.
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E90alex

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To the car it doesn’t really matter. But since you have TOU rates might as well wait until it’s cheaper at night.

it’s also better to charge every day unless you barely drive anywhere and you’ve only used a few % of charge.
 

HughJazzol

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Usually it's best to charge later at night when the temps are cooler and the rates are less. The battery does not need to cool off, it doesn't get hot.
Lee
I read somewhere in a post that it is better to wait an hour or so after driving before plugging in.
I wish I could find the thread.
I believe that it said "to let it stabilize", whatever that means.
 

Sikkun

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The battery does not need to cool off, it doesn't get hot.
Lee
I read somewhere in a post that it is better to wait an hour or so after driving before plugging in.
I wish I could find the thread.
I believe that it said "to let it stabilize", whatever that means.
Manual says best to wait several hours and reasoning it gives it “to cool”.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Best time to charge ? IMG_6363
 


Teslaeata

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Only ever charged when I’m ready to do it and then to the level of charge that suits me which, historically at home, was virtually always to 100%.

No detriment to HVB which is at 93.5%SoH after 51mths & 119,000 miles.

So, worry ye not!
 

Mach-Lee

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Manual says best to wait several hours and reasoning it gives it “to cool”.

IMG_6363.webp
Manual is not correct, battery temp does not appreciably increase while driving if you monitor it. That is likely a copy/paste from a hybrid manual, those do warm up their batteries quite a bit.
 

YeOldeTraveller

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I plug in when I get home, but I have the EVSE configured to not enable charging until later when the rates go down. (I can manually enable the charging if I need to.)

I also only charge to 70% as this is plenty for my daily needs (20-30%).
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