Optimum PHEV charge % for company car
Discussion
I have fairly recently taken on a Ford Kuga PHEV as a company car. I'll have the car for 4 years and then I'll get the next car.
I'm trying to get as many electric miles out of it as possible. I get paid a set ppm so the more electric miles, the less it ends up costing me in fuel.
I have heard that charging an EV battery to 100% each time is not good as it will damage the battery over time and limit the maximum range.
So, ignoring the longer term mechanical/material sympathy that an outright owner might have, what would be the optimum % charge value I should go for to get the most out of the 4 years I will have this car?
I'm currently charging to 90% on an almost daily basis. If I go up to 95% or even 100%, will I see a dramatic performance decrease on the maximum electric range by year 4? Does it knack the battery really quickly when full charging?
I'm trying to get as many electric miles out of it as possible. I get paid a set ppm so the more electric miles, the less it ends up costing me in fuel.
I have heard that charging an EV battery to 100% each time is not good as it will damage the battery over time and limit the maximum range.
So, ignoring the longer term mechanical/material sympathy that an outright owner might have, what would be the optimum % charge value I should go for to get the most out of the 4 years I will have this car?
I'm currently charging to 90% on an almost daily basis. If I go up to 95% or even 100%, will I see a dramatic performance decrease on the maximum electric range by year 4? Does it knack the battery really quickly when full charging?
FreeLitres said:
I have fairly recently taken on a Ford Kuga PHEV as a company car. I'll have the car for 4 years and then I'll get the next car.
I'm trying to get as many electric miles out of it as possible. I get paid a set ppm so the more electric miles, the less it ends up costing me in fuel.
I have heard that charging an EV battery to 100% each time is not good as it will damage the battery over time and limit the maximum range.
So, ignoring the longer term mechanical/material sympathy that an outright owner might have, what would be the optimum % charge value I should go for to get the most out of the 4 years I will have this car?
I'm currently charging to 90% on an almost daily basis. If I go up to 95% or even 100%, will I see a dramatic performance decrease on the maximum electric range by year 4? Does it knack the battery really quickly when full charging?
PHEVs are designed to charge to 100% every day. I had a MB PHEV that I charged to 100% daily during 4 years, and didn't have any change in performance or range. They will have a buffer at the top end, so that when you charge to 100%, it's technically not using all the battery. I'm trying to get as many electric miles out of it as possible. I get paid a set ppm so the more electric miles, the less it ends up costing me in fuel.
I have heard that charging an EV battery to 100% each time is not good as it will damage the battery over time and limit the maximum range.
So, ignoring the longer term mechanical/material sympathy that an outright owner might have, what would be the optimum % charge value I should go for to get the most out of the 4 years I will have this car?
I'm currently charging to 90% on an almost daily basis. If I go up to 95% or even 100%, will I see a dramatic performance decrease on the maximum electric range by year 4? Does it knack the battery really quickly when full charging?
I've been fully charging my X1 PHEV most days. It's now 2 and a half years old and I'm still getting the max range of 31 miles displaying during optimum conditions.
I understand the 20 to 80% charging of full EVs is partly because the last 20% needs to be at a much slower rate and since the range is much higher than a PHEV it's not worth waiting for that extended period.
I understand the 20 to 80% charging of full EVs is partly because the last 20% needs to be at a much slower rate and since the range is much higher than a PHEV it's not worth waiting for that extended period.
Not sure about other PHEVs but as a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and on that the user never charges to 100% or discharges to 0% as its managed by the battery controller, which typically restricts charge to 20-80%
The Outi has been around since 2015 and guys on the FB forum still have full battery capacity. A few have had battery tests & Mitsubishi have replaced batteries under warranty but they are only a few.
The Outi has been around since 2015 and guys on the FB forum still have full battery capacity. A few have had battery tests & Mitsubishi have replaced batteries under warranty but they are only a few.
I think the idea is, you rag it to 100% and any adverse effect on the battery is the second or third owner's problem.
It might be interesting to read the small print of the battery warranty, what do they warrant it will do over time?
My guess is the car will be too clever for you to destroy the battery in 4 years unless it's a taxi.
Does it have LiFePO4 batteries?, these are often good for many more deep cycles than other Li chemistries.
Time, as in calendar years is becoming obvious as the bigger problem than number of cycles.
It might be interesting to read the small print of the battery warranty, what do they warrant it will do over time?
My guess is the car will be too clever for you to destroy the battery in 4 years unless it's a taxi.
Does it have LiFePO4 batteries?, these are often good for many more deep cycles than other Li chemistries.
Time, as in calendar years is becoming obvious as the bigger problem than number of cycles.
My electric range is flattered somewhat by my normal commute to work. That’s 30 miles of urban and then 50 mph running, with a few 30mph villages for good measure.
Worst I get in winter is 25 miles and in summer, it can be as much as 45 miles.
Overall MPG over 43,000 miles is 118 mpg, but you need to factor in the charging cost over and above that. My overnight rate at home is 9p/kWh and I refuse to pay more than 25p/mile to charge away from home. I’ve found some decent free chargers at places that I visit with work on a regular basis, so take advantage of those when I can.
Just driven > 110 miles home this evening. Started with a full charge and managed 85 mpg. That’s on cruise at 62mph on the motorway, with occasional faster bouts to clear traffic in the inside line.
I get 25p/mile on the HMRC AFR at the moment, so provided I get better than around 28 mpg, I’m quids in.
Worst I get in winter is 25 miles and in summer, it can be as much as 45 miles.
Overall MPG over 43,000 miles is 118 mpg, but you need to factor in the charging cost over and above that. My overnight rate at home is 9p/kWh and I refuse to pay more than 25p/mile to charge away from home. I’ve found some decent free chargers at places that I visit with work on a regular basis, so take advantage of those when I can.
Just driven > 110 miles home this evening. Started with a full charge and managed 85 mpg. That’s on cruise at 62mph on the motorway, with occasional faster bouts to clear traffic in the inside line.
I get 25p/mile on the HMRC AFR at the moment, so provided I get better than around 28 mpg, I’m quids in.
Tractor Driver said:
My electric range is flattered somewhat by my normal commute to work. That’s 30 miles of urban and then 50 mph running, with a few 30mph villages for good measure.
Worst I get in winter is 25 miles and in summer, it can be as much as 45 miles.
Overall MPG over 43,000 miles is 118 mpg, but you need to factor in the charging cost over and above that. My overnight rate at home is 9p/kWh and I refuse to pay more than 25p/mile to charge away from home. I’ve found some decent free chargers at places that I visit with work on a regular basis, so take advantage of those when I can.
Just driven > 110 miles home this evening. Started with a full charge and managed 85 mpg. That’s on cruise at 62mph on the motorway, with occasional faster bouts to clear traffic in the inside line.
I get 25p/mile on the HMRC AFR at the moment, so provided I get better than around 28 mpg, I’m quids in.
ThanksWorst I get in winter is 25 miles and in summer, it can be as much as 45 miles.
Overall MPG over 43,000 miles is 118 mpg, but you need to factor in the charging cost over and above that. My overnight rate at home is 9p/kWh and I refuse to pay more than 25p/mile to charge away from home. I’ve found some decent free chargers at places that I visit with work on a regular basis, so take advantage of those when I can.
Just driven > 110 miles home this evening. Started with a full charge and managed 85 mpg. That’s on cruise at 62mph on the motorway, with occasional faster bouts to clear traffic in the inside line.
I get 25p/mile on the HMRC AFR at the moment, so provided I get better than around 28 mpg, I’m quids in.
I have a 6 year old VW PHEV (had it from new) and it gets charged to 100% virtually every day.
It still shows max range when full but I find that even in summer, it doesn't do as many electric only miles as it used to on the same journeys. But only marginally less. Although it's a lease so I'm not too bothered about battery health for the next owner.
I don't worry about battery range though as I only use battery for the short trips around town. Anything longer and the battery is just there to get better mpg.
It still shows max range when full but I find that even in summer, it doesn't do as many electric only miles as it used to on the same journeys. But only marginally less. Although it's a lease so I'm not too bothered about battery health for the next owner.
I don't worry about battery range though as I only use battery for the short trips around town. Anything longer and the battery is just there to get better mpg.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff