How to Optimize Your EV Charging Time

In general, it's best to keep your EV away from extreme temperatures if you can help it, as it will help you preserve the overall health of your battery pack. However, this is especially true if you're interested in optimizing your charging time. Electric vehicles have a feature known as the BMS, or battery management system. This is a safety feature that accomplishes many things, including keeping your battery at the correct temperature. When you charge your vehicle in a mild environment, your BMS will not have to work to manage the battery's temperature. However, if you're in extreme hot or cold weather, the BMS will be working to regulate the battery's temperature during your charge. This can make your charging time take longer, as your vehicle will automatically charge slowly if it means it will keep the battery from overheating.

When thinking about charging your battery, it might seem intuitive to charge to 100% every single time. If you're used to driving a gas-powered car, you might be accustomed to filling your gas tank to its full capacity whenever you stop at the gas station. However, EV charging works a bit differently, and keeping your battery at less than 100% can actually help with charging optimization. When your battery is above roughly 80-85% charged, it will take longer to charge the rest of the way. In general, the most efficient charging range is between 20-80%, so if you're going to be out and about for the day, keeping your battery in this range will help you take advantage of that fast-charging range. You can then plug your EV into a home charging station, and allow it to fully charge to 100% overnight!

In a typical gas-powered car, your battery handles smaller features such as interior lighting, the radio, climate control, and other interior features. In that case, your gas tank has very little to do with your battery, and you might not think about how those features affect your energy levels. In the case of an EV, the entire vehicle is powered by your battery pack. This means that if you're using those various interior features while you're charging your car, you're essentially using the energy that you're trying to deliver to your battery. Though it might seem tempting to sit in your car with the A/C, radio, or lights on, it's simply not the most efficient way to charge. To optimize your charging time, be sure to leave those features off until you've achieved your desired battery level.

As we mentioned above, the fastest charging range for your vehicle is between about 20-80%. However, for best results, you should try to charge your vehicle starting with a lower SoC. SoC stands for State of Charge, and it simply refers to your car's initial battery level when you begin charging. When you plug your charging cable into your EV's charging port, the vehicle will communicate the SoC to the charger in order to "tell" the charger how much energy it needs. When your SoC is lower, you'll be able to take advantage of more of that fast-charging range as your battery approaches 80%.

Come and visit us here at Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Laurel, Maryland, to check out our huge selection of brand-new EVs and PHEVs! You can find great options such as the Jeep Wrangler 4xe, Grand Cherokee 4xe, or Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. You can have full access to our selection of vehicles here at our showroom, and request a test drive of your favorite models with a member of our sales team. We'll also help you find the financing option that best suits your budget, and fill you in on our current specials and sales events so that you can get a great deal on your next purchase. We're committed to helping all of our customers find the EV or PHEV of their dreams! Get in touch with us today at Fred Frederick Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Laurel!