Which is better - plugging in every day or once a week

LLewellen Farquarson

Hi,
still doing my research, and a question springs to mind.

Say if my daily commute is 30kms. Is it better to plug in every night and bring it back to 100%, or leave it drain and plug in when needed?

Or with new battery technology, does it make a difference. (Showing my age with reference to memory effect etc.)

If it makes a difference, I am probably referring to a Renault Zoe, probably 2014.

ELM327

LI-ion batteries are happiest in the middle state of charge
So in your situation, I would deplete to 40% and then charge to say 80.

unkel

Makes very little difference. Nearly all EVs now come with an 8 year warranty on the battery. And a 2014 Zoe has probably battery rental? If so, the battery is guaranteed forever. EVs are probably end of life before there is a very substantial battery degradation (>30%)

grogi

LLewellen Farquarson wrote: »

Hi,
still doing my research, and a question springs to mind.

Say if my daily commute is 30kms. Is it better to plug in every night and bring it back to 100%, or leave it drain and plug in when needed?

Or with new battery technology, does it make a difference. (Showing my age with reference to memory effect etc.)

If it makes a difference, I am probably referring to a Renault Zoe, probably 2014.

Don't overthink simple things.

ELM327 wrote: »

LI-ion batteries are happiest in the middle state of charge
So in your situation, I would deplete to 40% and then charge to say 80.

And with the usable capacity around ~90% of the actual (5% shaved from the bottom, 5% from the top), they are in the middle all the time.

n97 mini

Personally I would only charge it when needed. If for no other reason than charging every night is a lot of effort for no gain.

cros13

grogi wrote: »

Don't overthink simple things.

And with the usable capacity around ~90% of the actual (5% shaved from the bottom, 5% from the top), they are in the middle all the time.

^This

I charge every night because it increases the utility of the car. Why limit your ability to take unplanned trips?
There's really no reason not to charge every night.

ei9go

cros13 wrote: »

^This

I charge every night because it increases the utility of the car. Why limit your ability to take unplanned trips?
There's really no reason not to charge every night.

I wonder would you use more electricity that way because the batteries would spend time balancing every night?

peposhi

cros13 wrote: »

^This

I charge every night because it increases the utility of the car. Why limit your ability to take unplanned trips?
There's really no reason not to charge every night.

I bloody second that!!!

What's the point of baby-ing a battery that could/would/will be replaced by either new car or a battery in 5+ years or so...

Even if you are planing to run the car down to the last breath - that's so many years ahead that you'd actually forget you were protecting it (unless saving is really your thing)

BoatMad

mis truths and unproven rumours abound about Li battery health and " best practice "
In the absence of good statically data

Just charge the car as you desire.

LLewellen Farquarson

Sound job,
so the consensus is to just plug it in every night, or not, , as it makes no difference to the battery.

It was more curiosity on my part - I have a driveway and will have an easily accessible charge point. Would probably just do it out of habit.

Thanks for the replies,

Now I just have to find a car!