Charging PHEV to 100%

[Wackywoo105]

My last two PHEVs didn’t offer the option to charge to anything less than 100%, and with their small batteries it wouldn’t have made much sense anyway as they only managed about 20 miles on a full charge.

My new PHEV is a different story. It has a much larger battery with a claimed 80 mile electric range, and it lets me set a charging limit between 50% and 100%, with 80% recommended. I’ve only charged it once so far, up to 80%, and the displayed range was 44 miles.

I’ve bought a granny charger and set it to 6 amps, which is how I’ll be charging most of the time. Since the car is on a three-year lease, I’m not particularly worried about long-term battery degradation from charging to 100%.

Is there any practical reason to stick with the 80% limit, or should I just charge to 100% and make full use of the range I’m paying for?

[TheRainMaker]

Is it yours or a lease?

If a lease, just charge it to 100% and don't think about it. If it's yours and you plan to keep it, charge it to 80%.

[Deviation]

I think breaking regeneration is generally compromised above 80%, at least on every electric/hybrid vehicle I ve driven.

Personally I still charge my lease EV to 80% because I don’t just think about myself, but future people/environment too :-)

[TheRainMaker]

Deviation said:

I think breaking regeneration is generally compromised above 80%, at least on every electric/hybrid vehicle I ve driven.

Personally I still charge my lease EV to 80% because I don t just think about myself, but future people/environment too :-)

It depends on the car; the i3s doesn't say anything about only charging to 80% and has been charged to 100% evertime for the last two years.

Our last Polestar, if we only charged to 80% would have a max range of 144 miles WLTP of 304 miles.

[MinchCS]

Deviation said:

I think breaking regeneration is generally compromised above 80%, at least on every electric/hybrid vehicle I ve driven.

Personally I still charge my lease EV to 80% because I don t just think about myself, but future people/environment too :-)

It's 90-95% on most EVs.
If using a granny and not leaving the car standing fully charged for long periods I would charge to a 100% every day. And, assuming you have a good plug, up the amperage to max too (typically 13A but will normally draw 10A).

Edited by MinchCS on Sunday 22 February 13:10