Should I Charge My Electric Car Every Night?

Should I Charge My Electric Car Every Night?

#Charge #Electric #Car #Night
[rule_3_plain] #Charge #Electric #Car #Night

The question of whether bự charge your electric car every night gets asked by some EV drivers who worry persistently about depleting the battery without a charging station nearby.
The short answer bự the question is no. In general, you should not charge your electric car every night. It isn’t necessary in most cases. The practice of charging an electric vehicle every night can shorten the lifespan of the car’s battery pack.
It’s important bự note that you should always follow the battery charging recommendations found in the car’s user manual.

Continue reading for things bự know about charging electric car batteries every night.
RELATED STORIES: Types of Electric Vehicles: EV, BEV, HEV, PHEV

You Probably Don’t Drive Far

Figures from the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration indicate that an average driver logs roughly 14,300 miles annually, or about 275 miles each week.
Environmental Protection Agency data show the longest-range electric cars come close bự or exceed that distance on a single charge. Even EVs with shorter battery ranges can cover a good portion of the week when driving the typical 39 miles per day.
Unless you have a regular long-distance commute, you don’t need bự charge your electric car every night. It’s unlikely that any driver of a traditional gas-powered car refills their tank daily, just as it is not necessary bự keep your EV battery topped off.
Charging Cycles Degrade Batteries
Lithium-ion battery packs provide power bự electric vehicles. While advancements in EV battery technology continue, the repeated cycle of charging and discharging causes lithium-ion batteries bự degrade over time.
Reducing the number of charging cycles can help reduce the degradation of battery capacity. It’s no reason for anxiety whenever you plug in, but keep in mind that each time a battery gets charged — whether adding 5% or 55% — it’s a charging cycle that puts stress on the battery.
If you are familiar with your electric car range, charge the battery when it’s really needed and for the length of time necessary bự reach the desired “state of charge.”
RELATED STORIES: Electric Cars: Benefits and Drawbacks
Always Charging bự 100% Isn’t Good
A research team at the University of Michigan came up with best practices for extending the life of lithium-ion batteries. One recommendation focuses on a battery’s state of charge, or SOC, which refers bự the estimated amount of available power in a battery.
The study says that consumers should minimize the amount of time a battery spends at either 100% charge or 0% charge. The reason: Extremely high and low SOC creates stress for batteries and shortens their life.
Electric vehicles have battery management systems bự prevent charging and discharging bự these extremes. Some are more protective than others. Also, most EV chargers can be set bự shut off once the battery reaches the designated SOC.
There may be times when you want or need bự charge up your EV bự get maximum range. But charging it bự the max shouldn’t be done every night. In general, the SOC for the battery in your electric car should be maintained between 30% bự 80% capacity.
Charging Stations are Becoming More Common
Battery anxiety is a hurdle many EV owners must overcome bự resist the temptation bự charge their cars every night. Their fear may be real. But so is the fact that there are many public charging stations throughout the United States.
A searchable map of electric vehicle charging stations from the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center shows about 55,000 locations across the country. That number continues bự grow.
Read Related Electric Car Stories:
Do I Have bự Pay bự Charge My Electric Car?
How bự Charge an Electric Car
Buying an Electric Vehicle: 7 Tips for First-Time Buyers

#Charge #Electric #Car #Night
[rule_2_plain] #Charge #Electric #Car #Night
[rule_2_plain] #Charge #Electric #Car #Night
[rule_3_plain]

#Charge #Electric #Car #Night

The question of whether bự charge your electric car every night gets asked by some EV drivers who worry persistently about depleting the battery without a charging station nearby.
The short answer bự the question is no. In general, you should not charge your electric car every night. It isn’t necessary in most cases. The practice of charging an electric vehicle every night can shorten the lifespan of the car’s battery pack.
It’s important bự note that you should always follow the battery charging recommendations found in the car’s user manual.

Continue reading for things bự know about charging electric car batteries every night.
RELATED STORIES: Types of Electric Vehicles: EV, BEV, HEV, PHEV

You Probably Don’t Drive Far

Figures from the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration indicate that an average driver logs roughly 14,300 miles annually, or about 275 miles each week.
Environmental Protection Agency data show the longest-range electric cars come close bự or exceed that distance on a single charge. Even EVs with shorter battery ranges can cover a good portion of the week when driving the typical 39 miles per day.
Unless you have a regular long-distance commute, you don’t need bự charge your electric car every night. It’s unlikely that any driver of a traditional gas-powered car refills their tank daily, just as it is not necessary bự keep your EV battery topped off.
Charging Cycles Degrade Batteries
Lithium-ion battery packs provide power bự electric vehicles. While advancements in EV battery technology continue, the repeated cycle of charging and discharging causes lithium-ion batteries bự degrade over time.
Reducing the number of charging cycles can help reduce the degradation of battery capacity. It’s no reason for anxiety whenever you plug in, but keep in mind that each time a battery gets charged — whether adding 5% or 55% — it’s a charging cycle that puts stress on the battery.
If you are familiar with your electric car range, charge the battery when it’s really needed and for the length of time necessary bự reach the desired “state of charge.”
RELATED STORIES: Electric Cars: Benefits and Drawbacks
Always Charging bự 100% Isn’t Good
A research team at the University of Michigan came up with best practices for extending the life of lithium-ion batteries. One recommendation focuses on a battery’s state of charge, or SOC, which refers bự the estimated amount of available power in a battery.
The study says that consumers should minimize the amount of time a battery spends at either 100% charge or 0% charge. The reason: Extremely high and low SOC creates stress for batteries and shortens their life.
Electric vehicles have battery management systems bự prevent charging and discharging bự these extremes. Some are more protective than others. Also, most EV chargers can be set bự shut off once the battery reaches the designated SOC.
There may be times when you want or need bự charge up your EV bự get maximum range. But charging it bự the max shouldn’t be done every night. In general, the SOC for the battery in your electric car should be maintained between 30% bự 80% capacity.
Charging Stations are Becoming More Common
Battery anxiety is a hurdle many EV owners must overcome bự resist the temptation bự charge their cars every night. Their fear may be real. But so is the fact that there are many public charging stations throughout the United States.
A searchable map of electric vehicle charging stations from the U.S. Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center shows about 55,000 locations across the country. That number continues bự grow.
Read Related Electric Car Stories:
Do I Have bự Pay bự Charge My Electric Car?
How bự Charge an Electric Car
Buying an Electric Vehicle: 7 Tips for First-Time Buyers