If you have recently made the switch to an electric vehicle, or are planning to, there are many new factors to consider when charging it. One common question that a new electric vehicle owner may ask is: “Should I charge my electric vehicle every night?” Most people will leave their phone to charge to a full battery overnight, and people wonder if this is the same concept for charging a vehicle. In this blog post, we will go through how often you should be charging your vehicle, whether or not it is bad for the car’s battery, and what happens if you do plug your vehicle in to charge every night.
Daily Charging
The first key points to note are that everyone has a different routine and drives a different distance each day. Some electric vehicle owners may have to drive 100 miles a day to work, whereas others only have to do the school run. As well as this, some people may have to add onto their route if they do not own an EV home charger and they have to rely on public charging stations. Many people who own a home EV charger will simply come home, plug in, and let their vehicle charge overnight, without the worry of having to plan a stop in the morning to gain charge from a public charger.
Lifestyle
- If you drive long distances every day, If your normal routine or commute to work usually goes through around 50% of your charge, it is practical to come home, plug your vehicle in, and wake up knowing you have a comfortable amount of charge to last you the next day.
- If you drive short distances, on average, most electric vehicle owners will only use around 20% of the battery per day. In this instance, nightly charging may not be necessary. However, it is not harmful to do so.
- If you have an off-peak tariff, charging overnight is generally the cheapest way to run an electric vehicle. If you are charging during the night while having an off-peak tariff, you are saving yourself money on your electricity bill.
- If you rely on public charging stations – If you do not own an EV home charger, you are less likely to charge at night and are more likely to charge whenever it is convenient.
Does Charging Every Night Damage the Battery?
The main concern that electric vehicle owners have is whether charging their vehicle every night damages the battery of your vehicle. Our 7kW smart home EV charger allows you to achieve slow and steady charging overnight for your vehicle. This is the best way to charge your electric vehicle and is far easier on the battery compared to rapid charging. Many electric vehicle manufacturers recommend keeping your daily charge limit between 70-90% for routine use of your vehicle. Charging your battery to 100% is not always essential and can cause the battery to wear over the years of use.
What Happens When You Plug in Every Night?
- The biggest benefit is that you can always start your day with a comfortable amount of charge, knowing that you will not have to stop at any public charging stations.
- By charging every night, you are taking the advantage of using cheaper electricity, saving you money in the long run. If you are on an off-peak tariff, quite simply, you are saving a lot of money on charging your vehicle.
- As discussed in the introduction to this blog, just like plugging in your phone overnight, charging your vehicle overnight becomes natural and part of your routine. By having an EV home charger installed,d you do not have to plan your week around stopping at public charging stations during your journeys.
- Finally, by charging every night, you are keeping your battery in the healthy mid-range, rather than constantly letting your charge drop below 20%.
The Role of a Home EV Charger During Nightly Charging
Having an EV home charger makes nighttime charging simple, safe, and efficient. Compared to a standard 3-pin plug to charge your vehicle, a dedicated home charger allows for:
- Faster charging
- Improved safety for charging
- Improved energy efficiency
- Allows for scheduled charging
- Allows for integration with smart tariffs
- Allows you to track your energy usage
Conclusion
Overall, charging your electric vehicle every night is not necessary; however, in most people’s routines, it is the simplest and most convenient way to charge their electric vehicle. With a smart home EV charger, the whole process of charging becomes so simple. You come home from work, plug in and forget about it, while waking up in the morning to a fully charged vehicle. You do not need to charge to 100% every time, as it can cause stress on the battery. Finally, the main point to mention is that there is not much harm in charging your vehicle every night. If you are making a longer commute to work everyday you may not have a choice but to charge every night, which is fine.
If you are looking to buy an EV home charger, take into consideration all the things we have discussed in this blog and make the right choice.
If you wish to purchase an EV home charger, please look at our website, where you can find all the information you need about our 7kW smart home EV charger.
https://evhomechargeruk.co.uk/product/7kw-smart-home-ev-charger/
Go directly to our Website and Press Buy Now, order your charger directly, including free delivery and a site Installation Survey.
You will then send a comprehensive installation fixed price quotation, and we will then take care of DNO requirements and Building Regulation sign-off compliant paperwork on successful completion of the installation. Guarantees: 3 years EV Charger Only. 5 years EV Charger and us fitting.
