Chargers
What to do if your electric car does not charge properly?
Having an electric car means enjoying a clean and quiet ride. However, it can be frustrating when the vehicle does
20/06/2025
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The range of an electric car depends to a large extent on how we care for and charge the battery. If we adopt good charging habits, we will not only be able to travel more kilometers between charges, but we will also be able to extend the life of the battery.
If this is something that worries you, be sure to take a look at these lines: we give you several tips on how to adopt good charging habits and make your car’s battery life last longer.
Extending the range of an electric vehicle is not only based on the battery capacity: charging habits have a lot of weight in the long term, so it is recommended that you take into account the following tips:
Always maintain a moderate speed. Driving at high speeds exponentially increases air resistance and, therefore, energy consumption.
It is also highly advisable to use regenerative braking whenever possible. This function recovers part of the kinetic energy when braking, converting it back into electricity for the battery.
And don’t forget to avoid sudden braking and hard acceleration to reduce consumption peaks, which also have a lot to do with battery consumption.
Heating and air conditioning can drain much of the charge. Program the air conditioning from the plug or use eco modes if your vehicle includes them.
And don’t forget to ventilate the car before starting to avoid charging the air conditioning system with very hot or very cold air.
Another critical point: planning. Consult maps of charging points along your route to locate the fastest route and the best locations to charge the car if your battery has problems with its life.
It is best to take advantage of long stops, such as shopping, meals or breaks, to recharge at slow points if you do not need fast charging.
Avoid full charge cycles from 0% to 100% on a regular basis. Maintaining the charge between 20 % and 80 % reduces the stress on the cells.
And remember that, if you are not going to use the vehicle for several days, it is best to park the vehicle with the battery at the level recommended by the manufacturer, which usually ranges between 40% and 60%.
If you want to know more about the battery life of an electric car, take a look at our article.
Batteries suffer in very cold or very hot climates. Whenever possible, park in garages or shaded areas to keep the battery at optimal temperatures.
Some vehicles allow you to preheat or cool the cabin and battery while plugged in, which reduces consumption on the road. If the option is available to you, don’t hesitate to take advantage of it.
It is common for drivers to ask themselves which is better, whether to opt for alternating charge (AC) or continuous charge (DC). Slow charging (AC) is gentler on the battery, although it is true that it takes longer to fully charge the battery, but for daily routines it is usually the most recommended option because it is the one that preserves the battery the most and the best.
It is also not a bad idea to take advantage of off-peak hours to benefit from cheaper rates. Leave the car charging all night if your tariff allows it and benefit from its advantages to charge the car at a lower cost.
Many manufacturers advise recharging to 80% on a day-to-day basis, and reaching 100% only when you are going on a long trip. You should also avoid discharging the battery completely: below 10%, the cells can be stressed and wear can accelerate.
Be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the car. Charging the battery if it is too hot is always a bad idea, especially in summer. The best thing to do is to let the car cool down and start charging later.
The same goes for cold weather: trying to charge the battery in freezing temperatures can accelerate wear. Therefore, if your car has the option to preheat the battery, do so to avoid a thermal shock that will compromise the life of the cells.
Do not forget to check the condition of the charging port. Make sure there is no dirt, corrosion or looseness. A solid connection improves charging efficiency every time.
Manufacturers often optimize battery management through upgrades. Install them when available to make sure you have the latest improvements.
In general, what should be avoided so that the battery does not deteriorate quickly is the recurrent use of fast charging, since for day-to-day use it is not the best option. Fast charging should be available for occasional moments or for unplanned trips.
Nor should you charge your car at low-quality stations. Some charging points, although inexpensive, are often faulty. It is best to use reliable networks that guarantee a healthy charge of your car’s battery cells.
And don’t forget that if your car has battery pre-conditioning options, use them to acclimatize the battery to the ambient conditions.
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