Via Oregon - September/October 2021 - 15

somewhere between 20 and 80 percent
charge, and plan to check on
the battery every few days or use a
timed charger, which allows you to
preprogram the charge to keep it in
the desired range.
Limit how often you
fully charge.
While some circumstances require
the range of a full charge, it's recommended
to stop charging your battery
at 80 percent. " It is best to keep
the battery state of charge between
20 and 80 percent, " Lum says. If your
daily driving uses 20 percent of the
charge, it's easier on the battery to
use 20 percent out of the middle
(such as 70 to 50 percent) rather than
the top 20 percent.
temperatures, plug in when
parked, so the battery can maintain
an optimal temperature without
drawing down the charge.
In hot climates, its best to park
in the shade and slowly charge up
to 80 percent overnight when the
temperature cools off. In extreme
cold, parking in an insulated
garage is also advised whenever
possible, so the car can use less
energy to keep the batteries warm.
Charge before parking
your vehicle for
extended periods.
Over time, a parked EV will slowly
lose its charge. Depending on the
state of charge at the start, the battery
can run down and sit with little
to no charge, which is damaging to
battery cells, especially if it drags
on. The battery can also be damaged
if left fully charged. Aim for
AAA | VIA 15
Keep your battery
comfortably above 0.
It goes without saying that you
don't want to run out of battery
power, but dipping too close to
empty can put additional stress on
the battery, too. Modern electric
vehicles have fail-safe systems that
shut off the engine when the charge
indicator nears zero. This prevents
you from fully draining the battery,
which can damage its cells, but it's
best for battery longevity to typically
stay well above that threshold.
Plan trips with frequent charging
intervals to reduce wear on the battery
and keep range anxiety at bay.
-chaya m. milchtein
Save on charging.
AAA now has Level II charging
stations at select Service Centers.
Members receive two hours of
complimentary vehicle charging.
Find out more at AAA.com/charge.
TOP RIGHT: BARTOLOMIEJ PIETRZYK / SHUTTERSTOCK; BOTTOM: MONKEY BUSINESS IMAGES / SHUTTERSTOCK

http://www.AAA.com/charge

Via Oregon - September/October 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Via Oregon - September/October 2021