Tips for Keeping Your EV Charged
Tips for Keeping Your EV Charged
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It's no secret that electric vehicles are on the rise. With their rising popularity comes many questions from drivers. One of those questions is how to keep the battery charged. There are a few tips that you should know in order to keep a sufficient charge in your EVs battery. Here at Prestige Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, we want to help you get the most from your EV. Please continue reading below to learn a few tips to keep your battery charged!
Use a Level 2 EV Charger
The first tip for keeping your battery's state of charge is to have a Level 2 EV charger installed at your house. Unlike a Level 1 charger that connects to a standard household outlet, a Level 2 charger can be plugged into a 240-volt outlet, similar to those used for household appliances. Alternatively, it can be hardwired into the home's electrical system to enhance efficiency. Installing a Level 2 charger enables owners to achieve approximately 7.6 kilowatts of power, resulting in a charging time of one and a half to four hours for PHEVs and four to nine hours for BEVs.
Utilize Regenerative Braking
The next tip is to maximize your usage of regenerative braking. While it may sound unconventional, electric vehicles (EVs) have the ability to charge their own batteries through a process known as regenerative braking. Regenerative braking involves converting kinetic energy into chemical energy, which is then stored in the vehicle's batteries. When the driver engages the brakes, the electric motors swiftly switch to reverse mode, simultaneously decelerating the wheels and redirecting the surplus electricity that would otherwise power the wheels back to the battery. This mechanism offers two significant advantages to drivers. Firstly, it enables the battery to either enhance or maintain its current state of charge. Secondly, it alleviates strain on the braking system, prolonging its lifespan and resulting in cost savings for maintenance.
Plan Ahead
If you plan on taking a long trip in your EV, it is essential to plan ahead. Before venturing out, you should plan your route and ensure that there are EV charging stations along it. Smartphone apps such as Google Maps, EVGo, ChargeHub, ChargePoint and others can help you with this. Another tip for long road trips is to minimize your load. Of course, this is difficult when you're traveling, as you must pack things. However, extra weight can decrease your vehicle's efficiency, forcing the drivetrain to work harder to provide the power being requested. To maximize your range, you should pack only the essentials and remove any unnecessary weight from the vehicle.
Things to Avoid
Two things to avoid to maximize your EVs battery life are frequent deep discharges and overcharges. The lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles perform better with shallow discharges and regular top-offs rather than frequent deep discharges. It's generally recommended to keep your battery level above 20% whenever possible. On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is recommended to avoid charging your battery beyond approximately 80% as often as possible. This is plenty of battery to get you through everyday driving without overcharging the battery. Using the 20/80 rule will help keep your battery in the sweet spot where you have enough battery power without a deep discharge or overcharge. Of course, one special circumstance to charge your vehicle to 100% is while you're preparing for a long road trip.
Let Prestige CDJR Help Maintain Your EV Battery
We hope that these few tips have helped boost your confidence in EV knowledge and are useful in helping you maintain your battery. If you have any questions or concerns about your EV battery, contact the service team here at Prestige Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram. If you're shopping for a new EV, we have a wide variety of PHEVs that are perfect for first-time EV owners. Right here on our website, you can find a selection of new PHEVs like the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, Wrangler 4xe, and Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. We look forward to earning your business!
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