{"id":14285,"date":"2025-07-06T22:54:10","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T20:54:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=14285"},"modified":"2025-07-06T22:57:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T20:57:53","slug":"is-it-always-best-to-charge-an-electric-car-battery-to-100-heres-what-the-experts-and-manufacturers-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2025\/07\/06\/is-it-always-best-to-charge-an-electric-car-battery-to-100-heres-what-the-experts-and-manufacturers-say\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it always best to charge an electric car battery to 100%? Here’s what the experts and manufacturers say"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charge to 80% or 100%? This is a common question among electric car users, but experts and manufacturers are clear on the answer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Range and battery degradation are two issues that concern electric vehicle drivers. For this reason, many choose to charge their cars to 100% every day for peace of mind, even if they don’t need that much range on a daily basis. But is this good for the battery?<\/span><\/p>\n

The reality is that experts in electric mobility and various brands in the sector have a clear answer, although there are some nuances, as daily routines are not the same as long journeys or vacations, where more miles are traveled.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Charging at home is not the same as charging at a public charging point out of necessity.<\/span><\/p>\n

The opinion of experts in electric mobility<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

Lithium-ion batteries suffer more stress when kept at extreme ranges, both above 90% and below 10%. \u201cFrequent 100% charging, especially if the car is not going to be used immediately, can accelerate the chemical degradation of the battery,\u201d explains David Buchmann, an energy storage systems engineer at Fraunhofer ISE, Europe’s largest solar research institute.<\/span><\/p>\n

Luc\u00eda Dolera, head of batteries at the Business Association for the Development and Promotion of Electric Vehicles (AEDIVE), points out that \u201calthough today’s batteries are much better protected than they were a decade ago, overusing full charges on a daily basis is not recommended, especially if the car is left charging overnight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Many experts say that the outside temperature has a decisive influence.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, some experts argue that it is not just how much you charge, but how and when. “Temperature has a decisive influence. If the car is charged to 100% in summer, in direct sunlight, and is left parked for several hours, that thermal stress is doubly harmful,” warns Sandra Infante, a researcher in energy storage at the IMDEA Energy Institute.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the opinion of car manufacturers?<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

A manufacturer specializing in electric cars such as Tesla recommends limiting daily charging to 80 or 90%, as stated in its app and vehicle manual. Something similar happens with Hyundai, which advises \u201ckeeping the charge between 20% and 80% in everyday use to extend the battery’s life,\u201d according to its director of electric mobility in Europe, Michael Winkler.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the case of BMW, the German manufacturer goes even further: \u201cThe technology already optimizes the health of the battery, but the more careful the user is, the better the long-term performance will be,\u201d says Rainer Mehl, head of innovation at the BMW Group.<\/span><\/p>\n

Renault also advises against charging to 100% in daily use. In its official guide for owners of the Renault Megane E-Tech electric car, the brand points out that \u201cto preserve the longevity of the battery, it is advisable to keep the charge level between 20% and 80% for most regular journeys.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There is an important \u2018but\u2019<\/span><\/strong><\/h5>\n

All references to car brands regarding battery charging recommendations have a \u2018but\u2019. For example, Renault, mentioned in the previous paragraph, does advise charging to 100% when it comes to long journeys or if you need all the available range for any reason.<\/span><\/p>\n

The same is true for Tesla, which also recommends charging to 100% on long journeys, and Mercedes-Benz: \u201cOur vehicles are designed to reach 100% without any specific risk, but we recommend reserving this for when you need to use all available range.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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If you are going on a long journey, experts and manufacturers do recommend charging to 100%.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBatteries suffer more the longer they remain at 100%. So it’s fine for trips, but it’s best to schedule charging so that it reaches 100% just before you leave,\u201d explains David Buchholz, professor and energy storage researcher at the Technical University of Munich.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 

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