Long term EV storage procedure

[arnis]

After you discharged main pack to around third up to half, switch vehicle off, wait 5 minutes and disconnect negative battery terminal.
If you have 12V trickle charger (IT MUST BE DEFINITELY SMART TRICKLE CHARGER otherwise you might ruin battery by overcharging)
you can leave 12V battery connected.

[Stanton]

I actually find this thread entertaining! People don't drive their ICE cars for months and (incorrect or not) do almost nothing but turn it off; BEV cars need almost less attention. The only things I would submit to is: leave it 'charged' ~50% and don't plug it in.

[arnis]

What you just said is that people don't care about their cars. Tell me something new

This thread is for people who want to care.
The fact that 99% of car users do not do anything before storing the vehicle doesn't make it right.
And that shall not be taken to EV world. Ignorance is bliss some say. Not today.


Nothing will happen with vehicle engine if you don't clean your interior and don't dry up HVAC box.
Also apperarantly nothing will happen if you don't wash your car. But it's not actually true.

PS: 99% of car users therefore are not suitable to... you know... have their meaningful word

[cpmiller15]

I'd leave the battery with more SOC than that; more like 60-80% (as stated above). Definitely do not leave the LEAF connected to an EVSE.

If you have an ODB-II reader (for LeafSpyPro), disconnect it. Some of them continue to put a load on the 12V battery.

Ok great, thanks. What is an "ODB-II reader"? Also, do you advise that I get a trickle charger for the 12V battery? Appreciate the help.

[jlv]

Ok great, thanks. What is an "ODB-II reader"? Also, do you advise that I get a trickle charger for the 12V battery? Appreciate the help.

If you don't know what an ODB-II reader is, you probably have not bought one to use with LeafSpyPro, so you need not worry about it.


I personally don't know about the trickle charger. I never had 12V battery issues with my LEAF, while other people have reported lots of issues. I had an 2013 SL with the silly PV panel to top off the 12V; I'm not sure if that is why.

[LeftieBiker]

Also, do you advise that I get a trickle charger for the 12V battery? Appreciate the help.

If you will be disconnecting the 12 volt battery for storage, just make sure it is topped off first, and top it off every six months it's in storage that way. If you will be leaving it connected, I suggest a battery maintainer like Battery Tender or Battery Tender JR. You may or may not have issues with the 12 volt battery if you just leave it as is. The likelihood of problems is higher with pre-2014 Leafs. The car is supposed to keep it charged...

[cpmiller15]

Ok great, thanks. What is an "ODB-II reader"? Also, do you advise that I get a trickle charger for the 12V battery? Appreciate the help.

If you don't know what an ODB-II reader is, you probably have not bought one to use with LeafSpyPro, so you need not worry about it.


I personally don't know about the trickle charger. I never had 12V battery issues with my LEAF, while other people have reported lots of issues. I had an 2013 SL with the silly PV panel to top off the 12V; I'm not sure if that is why.

Ok, so:

- leaving the main battery charged at 60-80%
- with the car unplugged and
- with the 12V battery remaining connected

should technically be ok for 3 months during the summer (in Southern California)

[arnis]

Your Leaf is from year...

[LeftieBiker]

Ok, so:

- leaving the main battery charged at 60-80%
- with the car unplugged and
- with the 12V battery remaining connected

should technically be ok for 3 months during the summer (in Southern California)

Yes. I would suggest, though, that it be left closer to 60% than to 80%. 40-50% would be optimum, if you won't need to take it on a long trip right out of storage.

[arnis]

Read first post:
1) Discharge main battery to anywhere between 30-50% if you disconnect 12V battery.
Or 50-70% if you keep your 12V battery connected (including on trickle charger).