ElectriCute said:
As some of you know, I'm new to the Leaf, and EV in general. My main concern about my car is "battery degradation." This, of course, is something that happens to the battery over time. The idea is to keep that degradation as low as possible. I hear this 20 to 80% theory a lot. A range to keep your battery at in order to lengthen it's life. Why is this? Isn't charging it to 100% a good idea to take advantage of the car's max range? A Nissan customer service rep mentioned to me that charging it to 100% is fine, and as soon as you reach 100%, charging stops. So no trickle charging. Is, what he told me, correct in regards to newer Leafs, or all Leaf cars in general? Like all of us Leaf owners, we want to maintain the battery as best we can so that we get the longest life out of it. To be honest, all of this is rather confusing. What are your thoughts on this subject, please?
Thank you.
Why are you attacking one truth with another? Is there no such thing as many "right" things depending on the ever changing need? Or are you simply determined to find a single process and defend it to the death?
You want the "best" process? That is an easy one rule answer
Charge up to what you need.
Now, your needs will change frequently...or not but they will change so some planning is required. Not much really. Its no more than the mental inventory you take every day when getting dressed, setting your alarm, or whatever.
So we have the best case. Now we also have to look at convenience. Best case means nothing if its too much work or causes an avoidable disruption in your life.
I hear this 20 to 80% theory a lot.
Its based in truth but realize it is a generalization that does not take into account YOUR needs. Adjust as necessary. If you use 60% of your range most of the time, this is a good place to start although I would move away from the idealized centered SOC and go 40 to 100 or even 30-90. Your decision.
Isn't charging it to 100% a good idea to take advantage of the car's max range?
No, actually its the ONLY WAY you can take advantage of the max range but how you plan to use it? It ain't a gasser and yeah, it takes "time" to plug in but its not a special trip away from home (if you have home charging can't recommend that enough) so charging to 100% like every 3 days or something is an incredibly bad idea. Get the "gasser analogies and nonexistent parallels out of your head ASAP!
Anyway, back to "need" Remember, its YOUR definition and EVERYONE's will be different and they will come here passing it off as some sort of no brainer right way and that might be true for them but it is not true for you.
Remember; its your need so NOTHING is off the table. You have already expressed the desire for best battery longevity. That is a great start. Remember; like the Christmas budget (for everyone but my ex) the need is sometimes tempered by the ability so the adherence to the ultimate or best case goal will fluctuate.
So now you have the basics.
My need is 100 miles during the work week; my 3 days off, I have no set formula cause its always changing.
Need;
28 mile RT commute
winter penalty
Unexpected transpo need. After MANY years of tracking my driving (since TG weekend 2003 so not quite a few decades) I found the only one that pops up with any regularity is Seatac airport. That is 53 miles. Other things pop up but are shorter sooo...
This is how I get my 100 miles. Close enough for me so my target SOC in the morning is 50 to 65% using the charge timer. I don't care about being off on my target and have hit nearly 80% a few times and have been under 30% a few times. Its all good. I have no experience whatsoever in pushing the car.