What is the better charging habit for battery health?

[67 Stang Convertible]

I was wondering how often to charge for the health of the battery. I find myself every 7 to 10 days I get down to around 50% battery charge; then that evening I plug into my Level 2 charger. I have read through the months about people plug in every night and wake to a 80 or 90% charge. Which is better for the health of the battery: Once a week (or as needed) versus "filling up" nightly?

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[JamieGeek]

Doesn't matter. I've done both to the same car.

Typically in the winter I will charge up daily to some specified level (depends on the car, with my Bolt I'd leave hilltop reserve on).

In the summer I drive until charge is somewhere less than 50% (typically 30-40%) and then charge.

These habits are more due to weather: In summber you're going to get more miles than in winter (altough it may not be that drastic in Georgia vs Michigan where I am).

The basic premise I've been using (and none of my plugins have shown any noticable battery degredation during the time I've had them) is:

• If charging daily try not to charge to 100% and
• If charging to 100% try to time it so the car doesn't sit at 100% for any length of time--e.g. time it so it reaches 100% right about the time you want to use it (so overnight for a morning commute)

Other than that: The car has the smarts to take care of the battery itself.

 

[Chudsaviet]

It doesn't matter how often you charge if you keep the charge at <= 90% as manual suggests.
Smart location-aware charge scheduling is very useful feature, it allows you to set max charge level and charge time interval for specific location, like home, and charge at any time to 100% at other locations.
Gives you peace of mind, just set it up properly.

 

[Gullwingdmc]

I always reference @stmache post about his discussion with a Ford engineer. The fact that stood out most to me was

He showed me a chart indicating if an owner charged his Mach-E to 100% on L2 charging only, the battery would only degrade 5% over 5 years. Less degradation at 90% and 80%.

Full Post: https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/meet-a-ford-engineer-today.8278/

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

It doesn't matter how often you charge if you keep the charge at <= 90% as manual suggests.
Smart location-aware charge scheduling is very useful feature, it allows you to set max charge level and charge time interval for specific location, like home, and charge at any time to 100% at other locations.
Gives you peace of mind, just set it up properly.

Agreed, I have the smart charge set between midnight & 6am. So I guess I'll just charge once a week or as needed. Thanks.

 

[Chudsaviet]

Agreed, I have the smart charge set between midnight & 6am. So I guess I'll just charge once a week or as needed. Thanks.

If you have a charger at home, its much better to keep the vehicle plugged in 100% time and precondition it each time you are going to drive.
Also when it was hot in Seattle, vehicle asked me to keep it on charger to be able to cool down the battery using A/C.

 

[67 Stang Convertible]

If you have a charger at home, its much better to keep the vehicle plugged in 100% time and precondition it each time you are going to drive.
Also when it was hot in Seattle, vehicle asked me to keep it on charger to be able to cool down the battery using A/C.

When you say "precondition the battery"; I generally have it set up to turn it's self on for cabin temp 15 -30 min before I depart for work or back to home. Is that "preconditioning"? Also mine is in the garage so I never had a message to keep it plugged in. I'm assuming your outside with that message; as I have to imagine it is a lot hotter in Atlanta than Seattle.

 

[Kabish]

I go back and forth on how to handle the battery as well. Typically you want a battery to be between 40% to 80%, that being a normal battery. I was running mine down to the 40% range and then charging it. That would normally be two days worth of driving.

I went back to plugging it in daily, but when I’m only at mid 60% I question if I should be plugging it in…..

Most people just plug it in and be done with it. Then again a lot of people plug their celllphones in and forget about it too which is why cellphone batteries degrade so fast.

 

[Chudsaviet]

When you say "precondition the battery"; I generally have it set up to turn it's self on for cabin temp 15 -30 min before I depart for work or back to home. Is that "preconditioning"? Also mine is in the garage so I never had a message to keep it plugged in. I'm assuming your outside with that message; as I have to imagine it is a lot hotter in Atlanta than Seattle.

If I understand Ford correctly, when you start climate control remotely, the battery is getting heated/cooled to the optimal temperature too. Also, energy for climate control and battery conditioning goes from the grid, which gives you a liitle more range and saves a little of battery cycles.
So I'm a big proponent of keeping the vehicle on charger as long as possible, even if its Level 1.

 

[JoeDimwit]

You’re going to get a lot of “as long as you don’t charge past 90% regularly, you’ll be fine” posts. Too many people don’t understand the difference between “acceptable practices” and “best practices”.
I am still trying to find a concrete answer to this question myself. There isn’t really a consensus on it though.

 

[BMT1071]

Take this for what it's worth. I figure if the manufacturer is good with charging to 90% that counts as a best practice for me.
What can 6,000 electric vehicles tell us about EV battery health? | Geotab

 

[RickMachE]

Leave on charger when parked, set to 90%. Regardless of use, ready in morning at 90%. That is best practice.

 

[Chudsaviet]

You’re going to get a lot of “as long as you don’t charge past 90% regularly, you’ll be fine” posts. Too many people don’t understand the difference between “acceptable practices” and “best practices”.
I am still trying to find a concrete answer to this question myself. There isn’t really a consensus on it though.

There are also some mental costs on minding to plug in/not plug in the vehicle every time. Benefits of "supposingly" better charge control shall be higher than these costs.
Also, each charge strategy benefits shall be scientifically proven. So far we have only proven recommendation to keep it under 91%.
Personally, I plug in every time and keep the charge setting at 80% at home.

 

[timbop]

After thinking about it more I'll amend my answer. In tough weather (really hot or really cold) it is best to plug in so that shore power is used to protect the battery. Otherwise, charge when you need it AS LONG as you keep it within a reasonable threshold - don't keep it too high or too low when you aren't going anywhere for a prolonged period. So yes, plug in every night December to February and leave it plugged in if you don't drive the next day. Same thing if the temps are going to be over 95. In between the extremes just charge when it needs it (although don't let it sit below 25% or so).

In April or May if it's at 74% and you aren't planning to go anywhere there's no need to plug it in

 

[Chudsaviet]

After thinking about it more I'll amend my answer. In tough weather (really hot or really cold) it is best to plug in so that shore power is used to protect the battery. Otherwise, charge when you need it AS LONG as you keep it within a reasonable threshold - don't keep it too high or too low when you aren't going anywhere for a prolonged period. So yes, plug in every night December to February and leave it plugged in if you don't drive the next day. Same thing if the temps are going to be over 95. In between the extremes just charge when it needs it (although don't let it sit below 25% or so).

In April or May if it's at 74% and you aren't planning to go anywhere there's no need to plug it in

Nah, too much math to do and no proven benefits.

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