Charging your electric car to 100%? Here's what you need to know

The user of a combustion engine car must learn certain routines to maximize the useful life of their vehicle. For example, how to drive with a cold engine or the implications of a turbocharged engine.

The same applies to electric cars, although in this case the key element is the battery. This will determine the state of the vehicle over the years.

In this way, we extend its useful life and avoid thermodynamic imbalance or degradation of the cell

How to charge an electric car

Lithium-ion batteries almost completely monopolize the market, whether in consumer products like mobile phones or laptops, or in the automotive sector.

This type of chemistry is the most balanced in terms of performance, cost, and durability, but there are certain aspects to consider when charging the battery, as it is very sensitive to speed and also to percentage.

Charge to 100%, yes or no?

Most drivers prefer to always have the maximum available range, whether through the fuel tank or the battery.

This is perhaps more important in the case of an electric car, as finding a charging point is not always easy, and the waiting time is always longer.

Now, in day-to-day life, is it necessary to charge to 100%? With the ranges that electric cars currently offer, it is normal that we do not need to, since the average daily kilometers completed does not reach a hundred.

And from the perspective of battery health? Experts do not recommend it either, and the reason is that a full charge on a regular basis accelerates chemical degradation, especially if the vehicle is not going to be used immediately.

This is especially important if we charge the car during the afternoon or night, when we get home. Once the battery is at 100% capacity, several hours will pass before we use the vehicle again, negatively affecting the battery. If this also happens in summer and in the sun, thermal stress multiplies.

Ideal battery charge for an electric car

It is true that the vast majority of current electric vehicles have charging management systems to prevent premature degradation.

However, they cannot avoid certain chemical reactions resulting from it. Therefore, car manufacturers and battery experts recommend charging to a point between 20 and 80% capacity.

In this way, we extend its useful life and avoid thermodynamic imbalance and the generation of lithium oxide (low charge) or degradation of the cell due to the formation of cobalt oxide (high charge).

Fortunately, modern electric vehicles come with integrated systems that allow configuring charging parameters to limit the maximum percentage or even schedule the charging time.

When to charge the battery to 100%

We are clear that the ideal is to keep the battery charge between 20 and 80%. But this poses limitations on real range, which can be a problem or an inconvenience when having to make long trips.

Manufacturers assure that users should not be afraid to charge to 100% when needed, as doing so occasionally poses no problem.

Just like with fast charging, the problem arises when it becomes a daily or habitual practice.

So, if you are going to travel, do not hesitate to charge to 100% or do it at a fast charging point. But at home or in the city, it is better to limit the charge to 80% and do it at a low speed.