How To Look After Your EV’s Battery Health

How you care for your EV’s battery makes a big difference to its battery health as our years of battery testing is increasingly showing.

Especially with more cars capable of ultra-fast rapid charging and more EVs being owned by people without off-street parking and unable to charge at home, it is becoming even more important to understand how to best maintain your EV’s battery to preserve range and the value of your car.

Maintaining your electric vehicle (EV) battery health is key to maximizing its lifespan and performance. Here are the best practices for charging your EV to preserve battery health:

🔋 1. Avoid Frequent 100% Charges

  • Why: Lithium-ion batteries degrade faster when regularly charged to 100%.
  • Best Practice: Keep your state of charge (SoC) between 20% and 80% for daily use. Especially for low daily mileage drivers, do not regularly top up your car unnecessarily. Allow a deeper discharge, and less frequent charges, and less frequently to full.
  • Exception: Charging to 100% is fine for long trips—just avoid letting it sit at 100% for extended periods.

 

⚡ 2. Use Level 2 Charging Most of the Time

  • Why: DC fast charging (e.g., Superchargers) generates more heat and stresses the battery.
  • Best Practice: Use Level 2 (240V) Home Charge Point 7kW charging at home or public stations when possible. Reserve DC fast charging for road trips or emergencies, wherever possible.

🌡️ 3. Charge in Moderate Temperatures

  • Why: Extreme heat or cold can degrade batteries and reduce charging efficiency.
  • Best Practice:
    • In hot weather, park and charge in shaded or indoor locations.
    • In cold weather, precondition the battery before charging or driving.

 

⌛ 4. Don’t Leave Battery at Very High or Very Low States

  • Why: Batteries degrade faster when left at extremes.
  • Best Practice:
    • Don’t leave the car parked for long periods at 100% or 0%.
    • If storing long-term, aim for ~50% SoC.  This doesn’t matter for short periods (for example a short holiday), but if you are not using your EV for an extended period of time, make sure it is not full or empty when you leave it.

🔁 5. Enable Battery Management Features

  • Many EVs have options like:
    • Charging limits (e.g., cap at 80%)
    • Scheduled charging (to avoid peak grid load)
    • Thermal management (cooling or heating the battery)

Use these features to automate and optimize charging behaviour.

 

⚙️ 6. Keep Software Updated

  • Manufacturers release updates to improve charging algorithms and battery management.
  • Enable automatic updates if possible.

✅ Summary: Quick Dos & Don’ts

 

DoDon’t
Keep SoC between 20–80%Regularly charge to 100%
Use Level 2 chargingRely on fast charging daily
Charge in moderate tempsCharge in extreme heat/cold
Use battery protection toolsLet EV sit at full or empty

 

Many of the cars we test have very little degradation, even at high mileages, so if cared for your EV and it’s battery will last for a very long time, and well beyond the life of the car.

Related Posts

How you drive your EV is the most important factor in range maximization and hopefully this article will help you get the most from your EV when you need it to have the longest range possible.