An EV battery is built to last for years and loses capacity only slowly. A few habits slow that wear down a little further, without taking up your daily life. Below is what matters most, and what you can safely ignore.
Keep daily charging around 20 to 80 per cent
A lithium-ion battery is under the most strain when it is nearly full or nearly empty. For your normal trips there is no need to charge to 100 per cent. Many manufacturers suggest about 80 per cent for everyday use, and in many cars you can set that limit on the screen or in the app.
A worked example, with assumptions: a 60 kWh battery and consumption of 18 kWh per 100 km. Charging from 20 to 80 per cent is 36 kWh, good for about 200 km. If you drive 30 km each way to work, so 60 km a day, that covers a little over three days. Charging all the way to 100 per cent adds another 12 kWh, around 67 km more.
A common mistake is leaving the car at 100 per cent every night “just in case” when you only drive 40 km a day. Set the limit lower and top up a little more often instead.
For a long trip, charging to full is fine. Time it so you leave shortly after charging ends, so the battery does not sit at 100 per cent for hours. Why 80 per cent is a good limit is explained in our article on charging to 80 per cent.
Do not run it flat regularly
The same logic applies at the bottom end. Try to stay above 10 per cent most of the time and plan a charging stop from around 20 per cent. Dipping below 10 per cent once is no disaster. What counts is what you do regularly.
A nearly empty battery also leaves you little margin. If the next charger is occupied or out of order, you have no reserve to reach another one. What to do then is covered in the article on an occupied charger.
Fast charging in moderation
Fast charging produces more heat, and so puts more strain on the battery, than gentle AC charging. Now and then, on a trip, that is no problem. It only becomes a point of attention when it is your only way of charging, week after week.
If you have a charge point at home or at work, use it for the daily top-ups. If you do not, public AC charging, for example at the supermarket or on the street, is often a good alternative. If fast charging is the only option, that is not a disaster either: a battery is there to be used. The difference between the two is explained in the article on AC and DC.
Mind the temperature
Extreme heat and cold are not good for a battery. In summer, park in the shade or in a garage, especially if the car sits for days. In winter, a cold battery charges more slowly and gives less range. Preheating while the car is still plugged in helps, because the energy then comes from the grid and not from the battery. You will find more detail in the articles on charging in winter and charging in hot weather.
Do not leave the car full or empty for months
If you are away for a longer period, leave the battery at about half. A battery that stays full or empty for weeks takes a beating either way.
An example: you are on holiday for three weeks and the car stays at home. Set it to roughly 50 per cent on the day you leave, not 100 and not 5. Some cars want to stay plugged in during that time, others prefer not to. The handbook tells you which approach applies to your model. The ordinary 12 V battery can also go flat during a long stand, so read that part too.
What you can safely ignore
Charging to 100 per cent once, fast charging once or driving down to 5 per cent once does no visible damage. Wear is the sum of habits over years. If you set the limit to 80 per cent and make the occasional exception, you are already doing well.
Some capacity loss is part of the deal anyway. After a few years the battery will not hold quite as many kilometres as when new. If the range suddenly drops much faster than you expect, have the car checked. Manufacturers usually give a warranty on the battery, but the terms differ by brand and model. Check what your contract says before you assume anything.
What you can do today
- Look in the handbook or app for a setting that caps the maximum charge.
- Set the limit for daily use to around 80 per cent, and raise it only for a long trip.
- Charge at home or at work when you can, and save fast charging for the road.
- Before you leave on holiday, check how full the battery is.
You can find a charge point near you or along your route on the charger map.